Manila Standard - 2019 December 14 - Saturday

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BELLO REMINDS EMPLOYERS: 13TH MONTH PAY TO EMPLOYEES MANDATORY

By Vito Barcelo

The 13th month pay is authorized by Presidential Decree 851, and it requires LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III employers to give it to their employees on Friday reminded employers to give not later than Dec. 24.

“This is a reminder to our employers their employees their 13th-month pay as not to forget the law. They have to give required by law.

their employees their 13th-month pay, Bello said.

PD 851 also provides that the 13thmonth pay be “one twelfth [one month] of the basic salary of an employee within a calendar year.”

Employers may provide half of the Employees who fail to receive this 13th-month pay before the opening of benefit from their employers are enthe school year, but they must pay the couraged to report to the department. balance on or before Dec. 24 or face “The remedy is to report to DOLE administrative sanctions from the La- and for DOLE to inspect and order bor department.

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Senate no rush to push House Cha-Cha reso

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz VOL. XXXIII • NO. 303 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SENATE President Vicente Sotto III said Friday that Charter change is not in the upper chamber’s list of priorities and said he was puzzled by a House resolution seeking to amend the Constitution.

“Even the term they are using like ‘resolution of both houses of Congress’ is not clear to me,” said Sotto.

“Why? Because that term is merely a definition of either a joint resolution, a concurrent reso[lution] or a simple resolution. So what is it?” Sotto said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson described the resolution as “at best, half of the story.”

Since Congress is bicameral, nothing will happen if the senators do not agree with the House resolution.

“Without the Senate agreeing to amending the Charter via a constituent assembly, no amount of determined efforts by the House members will bring to reality new provisions of the 1987 Constitution,” Lacson said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Cha-Cha is not a priority Next page

STREET DANCING. Students wearing colorful costumes from the different schools in Las Piñas City perform Friday their discrete dance numbers during the 14th Las Piñas Parol Festival street dancing competition at the newly inaugurated Tent at Vista Global South in Las Piñas City. Lino Santos

Military may run water firms

By MJ Blancaflor and Rey E. Requejo

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte warned private water concessionaires Thursday night that he would order the military to take over their operations and throw executives of Maynilad and Manila Water in jail as economic saboteurs over onerous provisions in their service contracts with the government.

“Don’t fool me and say that, ‘We will he said during a party of former Senator leave and you will lose water.’ I will order Manny Villar Thursday evening. the Armed Forces to operate your water,” “Then I will declare the suspension

of the writ of habeas corpus but only against economic saboteurs...and I will arrest all of you, for I want to see a billionaire in jail,” he added.

On Friday, the Palace blasted the two concessionaires for saying their rates would rise 100 percent if the government insisted on revoking the extension of their concession agreements.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo slammed the two companies for recanting on their

earlier pledge to President Duterte to defer the implementation of their approved increase in water rates in January 2020.

Next month, Maynilad is scheduled to increase water rates by P1.95 per cubic meter, while Manila Water is slated to raise its base tariff by P2 per cubic meter.

Panelo said Manila Water and Maynilad apparently do not care about the plight of water consumers.

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Half of requests online for gov’t info processed ABOUT 47 percent of the 18,036 online requests from the public to get access to information from 447 agencies under the executive branch were “successfully facilitated and processed”, according to data from the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

During the Freedom of Information Awards ceremony in Makati City on Thursday, PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar touted the Duterte administration’s transparency by making the offices under the Office of the President available for public scrutiny. “[Around] 18,036 requests were lodged on the e-FOI [electronic FOI] portal,” Andanar said in his opening remarks.

“Out of these online requests to 447 participating government agencies, 47 percent had been successfully facilitated and processed. This means out of every 10 FOI requests, half are disclosed to the public.”

In related developments: • The Palace has renewed its call Next page

OATH-TAKING. Lakas-CMD Party president and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez (3rd from left) administers Friday the oath-taking of new Lakas-CMD member from the Lone District of Southern Leyte, Roger Mercado (3rd from right) during the Oath-taking Ceremony and Lakas-CMD Members and Friends Christmas Party at Radisson Hotel, SM North Edsa, Quezon Cty. Ver Noveno

Turn to A5

By Maricel V. Cruz THE chairman of the House Appropriations Committee on Friday said the version of the P4.1-trillion 2020 budget approved by the bicameral conference committee and ratified by both Houses of Congress contains no pork and no parked funds.

Committee chairman Isidro Ungab said the 2020 general appropriations bill complies with the “express instructions” of President Rodrigo Duterte as it would be a powerful tool to help deliver his goal of a “safe and comfortable life for all.”

Ungab said the budget process was undertaken with “utmost transparency.”

“It represents the clear 2020 vision of the President and his economic strategy anchored on increased spending in infrastructure and human capital development. The projects outlined under the 2020 budget will help sustain our status as one of Asia’s bestperforming economies,” he said.

“Attempts to label the 2020 budget pork-ridden by constantly redefining ‘pork’ is unfair and misleading. The Supreme Court has already declared pork barrel funds as unconstitutional and clearly defined what constitutes pork.

The 2020 budget is pork-free,” he added.

The lawmaker noted that all changes made in the GAB were aligned with the President’s priorities and were based on the recommendations of the Cabinet departments and other government Next page

Eastwood film on sex for stories draws flak

AI sets final notes on Beethoven’s 10th A FEW notes scribbled in his notebook are all that German composer Ludwig van Beethoven left of his Tenth Symphony before his death in 1827.

Now, a team of musicologists and programmers is racing to complete a version of the piece using artificial intelligence, ahead of the 250th anniversary of his birth next year.

Ungab insists no pork, parked funds in budget

‘Star Wars’ fans camp out ahead of showing OBSESSED Star Wars fans with sleeping bags and a portable movie projector have started camping outside Hollywood’s Chinese Theater, more than a week before the blockbuster begins playing.

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LOS ANGELES—Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood was at the center of a firestorm Thursday over his latest movie depicting a reporter trading sex for stories—prompting legal threats over the “shocking” and “untrue” portrayal from her real-life newspaper.

Richard Jewell dramatizes the story of the innocent man who found himself targeted in a devastating media frenzy following a deadly blast at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Jewell was initially hailed as a hero after he spotted the pipe bomb but was soon identified by journalists Next page

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News

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

U.S. reso an ‘undue interference’ T

HE Philippine Embassy in Washington on Friday warned the United States Senate Resolution calling for the immediate release of detained Senator Leila de Lima “may be potentially interpreted as posing undue interference” in the country’s domestic affairs.

in Senate Resolution 142. As close treaty allies that seek to address common challenges, the Philippines and the United States should focus on what they can do together, including capacity-building for the criminal justice system and related institutions,” it said.

In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the American senators were “misled” by members of the opposition for approving the resolution.

Panelo insisted the charges against De Lima and Ressa passed through judicial processes.

The US Senate committee on foreign relations passed Resolution No. 142, asking the government to free De

Lima for her to “discharge her legislative mandate” and to “drop all charges” against Ressa.

The senators also called on US President Donald Trump to “impose sanctions” against security forces and officials responsible for De Lima’s arrest, which include revoking their US visas and freezing their assets.

“Apparently they have been misled by the reports coming from the opposition, as well as media outlets who had been biased against the administration,” Panelo said in a television interview.

He also said US lawmakers should “study” the case of the two women instead of merely relying on news reports.

MJ Blancaflor with PNA

The resolution, approved at the committee level, condemns the Philippine government for the continued detention of De Lima.

The detained senator was described as a “prisoner of conscience, detained solely on account of her political views and the legitimate exercise of her freedom of expression.”

The text also called for the dropping of all charges against Rappler CEO

Maria Ressa.

De Lima has been in detention since 2017 for her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade while Ressa is facing charges for violation of the Anti-Dummy Law and cyber libel.

In a statement, the embassy said De Lima and Ressa’s cases were being handled in accordance with Philippine laws and processes.

“We note the sentiments contained

Senate...

From A1

Broadcast journalist Apolinario, 46, passes away

of the Duterte administration after he failed to mention it during his State of the Nation Address at the opening of the 18th Congress last July.

He reminded those who are planning to revive Cha-Cha to think twice because this would be an exercise in futility.

Two opposition lawmakers on Friday warned that the proposed Charter change would be “very disadvantageous” to consumers and national minorities.

Bayan Muna Representatives Ferdinand Gaite and Eufemia Cullamat appealed to his colleagues not to support the renewed effort to tinker with the Constitution that is being pushed

by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments.

The committee of Rodriguez approved the consolidated resolution in a meeting last Wednesday even if President Rodrigo Duterte has already made it clear that Charter change will not be a priority in his remaining three years. Similarly, Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano earlier said that Cha-Cha is not a priority.

“We could be bracing ourselves for a tidal wave of onerous contracts similar to or even worse than the now highly publicized scandalous deals with Maynilad and Manila Water,” said Gaite as he expressed his apprehension on the approval of proposed constitutional amendments that includes giving Congress the power to lift restrictions on foreign ownership.

This authority would be granted to Congress by the introduction of the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” on economic provisions in the Constitution that limit the participation of foreign investors, Gaite added.

“We have already seen the detrimental effects of opening up public service to business interests, and now they want to do it on a grander scale, involving foreign businesses,” he added.

Gaite said areas to be potentially opened to full foreign participation and ownership are in the use of land and natural resources, use of marine wealth, control of public utilities, mass media and advertising, and educational institutions, among others.

“If this amendment gets through we would see our public services turned into super-profit generating, 100-percent foreign-owned enterprises. We would be fully at their mercy,” Gaite said.

Cullamat, meanwhile, denounced Rodriguez’s effort to railroad ChaCha by having the resolution approved in an executive session after 10 members voted for the measure while four opposed it.

“It is clear as day that this Charter change proposal will only benefit the politicians,” Cullamat said.

Bello...

From A1 the payment of the 13th-month pay, Bello said.

“We will issue a writ of execution to be served by the sheriff,” he said.

“We can also garnish the bank account of the employer. We can further levy the personal and real property of the employer and have these sold in a public auction.”

Eastwood film...

From A1 including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Kathy Scruggs as an FBI suspect.

Scruggs, portrayed by Olivia Wilde, is depicted in the movie trading sex with an FBI agent in exchange for learning the suspect’s identity.

“The portrayal of our reporter is shocking, untrue and an obvious Hollywood trope,” editor Kevin G. Riley told AFP. “The film commits the very sin that it purports to accuse the media of. It literally makes things up in telling the story.”

Hunt is on for 12-k big-time drug targets

By Rio N. Araja THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Friday vowed to run after over 12,000 big-time drug suspects and send them to jail before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down in 2022.

In an interview over Dobol B sa News TV, PDEA director general Aaron Aquino said the government was able to arrest 8,000 high-value targets in the past three years.

But he lamented there were still more than 12,000 others who continued to remain scot-free and to operate.

“Hopefully, we aim to finish them all although despite difficulty in the case build-up and conduct of operations against our high-value targets.

But [I believe] there is a way to do so, together with other law enforcement agencies,” he said.

He cited the importance of beefing the capability of surveillance operations and validation.

He maintained his earlier position that several men in uniform, politicians, celebrities, media personalities, lawmakers in Congress, barangay officials have involvement in illegal drug trade.

Only the intelligence units have the access to the list of the drug suspects, he said.

As far as the local drug traders are concerned, Aquino said there are 186 of them operating in the country.

Meanwhile, Aquino urged Vice President Leni Robredo to disclose what she found out about the government’s anti-drug campaign.

Robredo said she would reveal her “discoveries” on Monday during her 18-day stint as co-chairperson of the Interagency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs.

“I think what she was referring to as discoveries were those that she mentioned in her letter to the President, wherein she cited her recommendations to improve and strengthen the ICAD,” Aquino said.

of our Kapuso, Cesar Apolinario Jr., who peacefully joined his Creator today, Dec. 13, 2019,” GMA Network’s statement read.

“An award-winning broadcast journalist, writer and director, Cesar will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues, especially those in GMA News and Public Affairs and in the film industry, where he devoted the best years of his life.”

“A loyal Kapuso, his dedication to his craft as a news reporter, producer and public affairs host will continue to serve as an inspiration to all.”

Apolinario earned his degree in Communication Arts at the University of Santo Tomas.

He worked at the defunct RPN Channel 9 as a part-time writer, reporter and cameraman before transferring to GMA Network Inc. in 1999 as a researcher and cameraman for the documentary “I Witness.”

Before his passing, he hosted the network’s weekly magazine show “i Juander.”

Apolinario also directed “Banal,” an entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival in 2008, during which he won as best director.

Manila Water chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, in his letter, relayed to Duterte his company’s decision not to collect the P7.39 billion it won in an arbitration case against the government.

Zobel also assured the President that Manila Water informed state water regulator MWSS on Dec. 3 of its plan to “work out an arrangement that will effectively defer the implementation of the approved water charge.”

He also noted that Manila Water has agreed to “immediately start with the discussions and expedite the negotiations” with regard to its supposed “illegal, onerous or disadvantageous” agreement with the government.

“Mr. President, we heed your call to revisit and renegotiate certain provisions of the concession agreement.

We fully share your mandate to put the interest of the people as the primary objective,” Zobel’s letter read. “We will work closely with the proper government agency to make sure that the P7.39-billion arbitral award will not have to be paid by the government directly or through the customers.”

Meanwhile, Maynilad chairman Manuel Pangilinan and president and chief executive officer Ramoncito Fernandez assured the President that they would cooperate with MWSS in reviewing and possibly amending the concession agreement.

Pangilinan and Fernandez guaranteed that just like the President, their desire is to also “provide our people access to water and wastewater services at affordable rates.”

Despite this, the MWSS announced on Tuesday that it has revoked the resolution extending by 15 years the 25-year concession agreements with Manila Water and Maynilad signed in 1997 during the leadership of then-President Fidel Ramos.

This would mean their roles as concessionaires would end in 2022, unless their agreements are renewed.

An MWSS resolution in 2009 extended their contracts to 2037, but the same agency revoked the extension this month, after the President’s order to have the agreements reviewed.

Panelo said the water concession pacts with Manila Water and Maynilad “violate every prohibited act of the law.”

“All legal options are open to him (Duterte),” Panelo said, adding that Duterte would not be swayed by nor enticed into the proposed settlements by

Manila Water and Maynilad.

“The concessionaires are put on notice that the Chief Executive will not renege from his constitutional duty of enforcing the law. Neither will he be swayed (by) nor enticed into accepting a compromise. Dura lex sed lex (The law is harsh but it is the law),” he said.

Panelo noted that water is a natural resource and the people’s access to it is a basic human right and is constitutionally protected as well.

The Department of Justice, meanwhile, justified the MWSS move to revoke the extension of their concession agreements.

Justice Undersecretary Marrk Perete said the MWSS’ decision to cancel its earlier extension of its concession agreements with the two water concessionaires does need approval from a court.

“The burden of taking action based on an interpretation of the contract is assumed by the executive. In assuming that burden, it need not obtain prior court approval,” Perete said.

“Take note the proper time to renew the contract is upon the expiration of the concession agreement in 2022, as expressly provided in the agreements themselves,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.

Guevarra, meanwhile, asked Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar to inhibit herself from participating in the ongoing review of the government’s water concession agreements to remove suspicions of a vested interest.

Villar, a former congresswoman, is the wife of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and the daughter-in-law of Senator Cynthia Villar and businessman Manny Villar.

The Villar family owns the water utility PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., which is headed by Senator Villar’s eldest son, Manuel Paolo Villar.

The undersecretary on Friday said she would inhibit herself from participating in the review.

“To eliminate any cloud of doubt on the impartiality of the department’s review and renegotiation of the water concession agreements with (MWSS)…

I am inhibiting (myself) from any involvement in the department’s review and renegotiation of the said agreements,” she said in a memo to Guevarra. With Julito G. Rada and PNA

for the passage of the Freedom of Information law, one of the campaign promises of President Rodrigo Duterte that has yet to be fulfilled.

Andanar on Thursday called on lawmakers to pass the FOI law that seeks to outline the procedures and exceptions on the disclosure of public documents.

“I remain hopeful that our lawmakers will finally heed the call of the FOI-Project Management Office, the Civil Society Organizations and the people, and pass the FOI Law,” Andanar said.

• The Presidential Communications Operations Office has recognized the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for its 99-percent compliance and response rate in implementing the government’s Freedom of Information program.

This was the second time the MMDA received the Freedom of Information Champion Award (agency category) from the PCOO, the lead agency in the implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 2, which authorizes the Constitutional mandate of the People’s Right to Information.

On July 23, 2016, Duterte signed Executive Order 2 on FOI as part of his campaign promise to allow Filipinos to obtain documents and records from public offices in a bid to promote transparency in the government under his leadership. MJ Blancaflor and Joel E. Zurbano with PNA

to, and final version of, the 2020 GAB at the bicameral conference committee,” he said.

On Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said there is no agencies.

“Both houses ratified the budget bill. room for unconstitutional provisions in The representatives of both the Senate the proposed 2020 national budget.

Panelo made this assurance followand House agreed on the amendments

ing concerns raised by Senator Panfilo Lacson that members of the House of Representatives allegedly made lastminute insertions before the signing of the budget by the bicameral conference committee.

“Provisions in the budget that run counter to the Constitution will be

vetoed by the President, there is no change in that policy,” Panelo said in a statement.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, like Panelo, earlier said the President will not hesitate to use his veto powers as he did when he vetoed the 2019 national budget. With PNA

By Rio N. Araja VETERAN broadcast journalist Cesar Apolinario has passed away at 46 on Friday at 9 a.m. in a hospital in Fairview, Quezon City.

He is survived by his wife Ma. Judith and children.

He was diagnosed with lymphoma or cancer of the lymphatic system in August 2018.

Just last Nov. 12, he was rushed to a hospital due to sepsis and pneumonia.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing

Military...

From A1 “We note that the two Metro Manila water concessionaires, Maynilad and Manila Water, have threatened to increase the water rates by 100 percent, following the decision of the MWSS [the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System] revoking the extension of their concession agreements,” he said.

Manila Water and Maynilad wrote separate letters to Duterte on Dec. 10, expressing their willingness to make amends following threats of facing charges of economic sabotage and even expropriation from the President.

“We recall that they offered not to implement the approved new water rates, among others, after the President publicly denounced the onerous provisions of the said contracts. These concessionaires can do their worst and continue with fleecing the consumers while the President will do his best in serving and protecting the interest of the people,” Panelo said.

Duterte has repeatedly claimed that the government’s concession agreements with the two water concessionaires contain “onerous” provisions that are disadvantageous to the public.

He has been lambasting the two companies after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Singapore ordered the Philippine government to pay Manila Water P7.39 billion for the non-implementation of water hikes from June 1, 2015 to Nov. 22, 2019.

The PCA also upheld its October 2018 ruling ordering the Philippine government to pay P3.4 billion for Maynilad’s losses from March 11, 2015 to Aug. 31, 2016.

Duterte has ordered the filing of appropriate criminal, civil, and administrative charges against the owners and legal counsels of Manila Water and Maynilad, as well as the agents and lawyers of the government agenciess involved in the crafting of the water concession deals.

Duterte’s actions prompted Manila Water and Maynilad to send him a letter, signifying their intent to cooperate with the government to settle the issue.

Panelo on Friday released the letters, which are still under review by the Chief Executive, “for the sake of transparency.”

Ungab...

From A1

Never arrested or charged, Jewell was cleared by the FBI after 88 days.

But TV networks camped outside his home for the duration, hounding Jewell who became the subject of wild speculation and ridicule.

Cox Enterprises, the newspaper’s owner, on Monday sent a letter to Eastwood and Warner Bros. demanding it release a public statement stating “some events were imagined for dramatic purposes.”

The letter says the paper and its staff are “portrayed in a false and defamatory manner.”

It also demands a prominent disclaimer be added to the film to that ef-

fect.

The film currently has a disclaimer, stating it is “based on actual historical events” but created some dialogue and events “for the purposes of dramatization,” at the very end of the credits.

“It doesn’t look like the kind of disclaimer that would be placed by a filmmaker who was seriously concerned about making the audience aware of the truth of the situation,” said Riley.

It is not the first time critics have raised eyebrows at the movies of 89-year-old Eastwood, who won Oscars for directing Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004). AFP

‘Star Wars’...

From A1 Roughly 20 sci-fi lovers were in place Thursday, seven days before doors swing open for the first preview screening of the much-hyped, sagaconcluding “The Rise of Skywalker.”

Organizers expect that number to swell to 150 in the coming days, with fans of all ages traveling from as far as the United Kingdom and Japan to see the movie first at the iconic venue where the original “Star Wars” premiered in 1977.

Half...

From A1

“When Star Wars comes, you put everything on hold—it’s like having a baby,” said mega-fan Nicolas Johnson, waiting with his dog Cookie.

“I’m actually lucky that I’m able to work on the line,” added Shing Hwong, a 39-yearold attorney from near San Francisco who has brought her laptop down with her.

“I’m sleeping here overnight and in the evening I just get to hang out with a lot of my friends, and talk and live Star Wars.”

The tight-knit community first began lining up outside Star Wars premieres two decades ago for 1999’s “The Phantom Menace.” AFP

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Opinion

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Third Sunday of Advent THE third Sunday of Advent is also called “Gaudete Sunday” which in Latin means “rejoice.” It reminds us that this season of advent is a time for rejoicing because the day of the Lord is coming. It is 10 days until Christmas—celebrating the First coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ is once again calling us.

For this Sunday the Gospel of Matthew brings us back to the narrative where John the Baptist, now in prison, sending his disciples to inquire about the wondrous deeds of the Messiah. "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"

John’s disciples asked Jesus who answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."

He must have been perplexed of what Jesus was doing because John the Baptist was expecting that the messiah would free Israel from the Roman yoke. At that time, the Jews were awaiting for the messiah prophesied by the prophets and the Jewish communities were on the lookout for the nature, identity, and activity of the Promised One. So John was not the only one asking “Are you the one?”

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

of which Jesus said to him, as he is saying now to us, you have to have faith in me!

John's question is really the question for hearers of every age, more so in our times. Much like the Jews, we have a preconceived notion of what God should be in our lives; often, expecting and demanding that God conform to our own idea of how He should act, relate to us and respond to our problems and concerns. If He does not meet our expectations, we then begin to doubt His love or worse, question His very existence. Why does God not answer my prayers? Or, if He truly exists why does He allow so much suffering in the world, particularly to me and my family? We are ever faced with circumstances that cause us to say, "How could God love me when He has allowed circumstances as these?" It may have been sickness, financial and relational problems or unanswered prayers. Possibly we do not verbalize this doubt at all, but way down in the recesses of our heart we allow these questions and doubts of, “How could this happen if God really loved me?” to reverberate in our soul.

It is this doubt that propels man to rebel against Him and fashion a god to his own liking, and thus relying ever strongly in the god of money, power and pleasure and other idols. In the end, they do not bring us real joy and happiness. For peace and happiness can only be found in the Lord. Jesus says—Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Despite our self-praised progress, we find ourselves in a desolate desert.

The Israelites when they saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, doubted God and

Dealing with the Christmas rush

Y

ULETIDE, the festive season in this predominantly Christian nation of 106-million people, officially begins on Monday when the nine-day midnight masses usher in Christmas which lasts until Epiphany.

ment Authority has asked those going to Christmas parties—a jabbing sight during the season—to do carpooling to help lessen traffic in the already congested traffic road arteries.

The Christmas party week in fact began earlier this month, with organizers trying to outflank others in assigning party dates as from midway of the month in the 16 towns and cities, including the capital Manila, of the expanding metropolis.

Particularly watched by authorities is the volume of traffic along the nearly 24-km Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, the limited-access circumferential highway around Manila, and surrounding boulevards and avenues—with officials predicting a 15 to 20-percent influx of vehicles in roads during the season.

MMDA authorities have also met up with officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, shopping

In the metropolis, where nearly 13-million people live, with the same road network as in decades back and the volume of rolling wheels unregulated, which has allowed the emergence of brutishly terrible traffic, authorities have launched measures to address what could well spoil a happy memory.

The Metropolitan Manila Develop-

mall operators as well as water utility and telecommunication firms to mitigate the expected traffic congestion that automatically accompanies the Christmas rush.

MMDA has implemented its new plans—these began on Nov. 11 and will be in effect until Jan. 10—which include the temporary suspension of any road reblocking along EDSA and C5, with the exemption of government flagship projects.

Shopping malls in the metro have also been ordered to begin operations at 11 a.m. on weekdays instead of the usual 10 a.m. opening. At the same time, mall operators have been instructed to deploy additional security personnel to control the flow of vehicles queuing up at parking lot entrances to avoid bottlenecks.

These are smart measures. But measures that need the cooperation of those going out.

Turn to A5

A lonely battle I FIRST saw him in a press briefing sometime in 2017. He was flanked by two flamboyant lawyers and he was presented as a possible witness to the then brewing impeachment case against Maria Lourdes Sereno.

A lawyer himself, Eligio Mallari presented voluminous documents he himself prepared, regarding a case of land dispute with the Philippine National Bank which had dragged for 37 years now.

According to one of the lawyers who was with him then, Mallari’s case would have profound implications on the continuous possession of qualifications of Sereno as chief judge and member of the highest court.

For a while, the case have long been ruled in his favor, Mallari alleged that PNB, in 2009, managed to insert a lis pendens clause on the title which means the property is still under litigation, which prevented him from selling the property he acquired in 1980.

With the case now in the SC, Mallari said PNB wrote Sereno on Feb. 8, 2013, and from then on, the case stagnated.

Mallari insisted that Sereno should have included the PNB letter in the agenda, either the Supreme Court en banc or the First Division, which she chairs, so it could be discussed by the other Justices.

According to Mallari’s counsel, that is highly irregular as when a lawyer writes to the Supreme Court and the case stays pending, that constitutes a serious misconduct. And when a Chief Justice does not divulge this to his or her peers in the Supreme Court much less agenda this for deliberation, he or she may be held to account under the Constitution for an impeachable offense, the counsel added.

While the impeachment case they have filed against Sereno had been dismissed by the House of Representatives for insufficiency in form, Mallari and his counsel then said they will forward all of Mallari’s evidence to Larry Gadon, another complainant in Sereno's impeachment case, so it could be presented during the trial at the Senate.

However, even if their complaint was not dismissed, there was no chance his case would be deliberated in the impeachment court as Sereno was ousted from office, her appointment as Chief Justice voided from the beginning.

Sereno has long been gone from the Supreme Court. Mallari and his lawyers have gone separate ways, the latter appointed to some government positions. But Mallari, he is still waging his battle by his lonesome.

But still, two chief justices after Sereno, Mallari’s case has yet to be heard by the high court.

All this man asks from the Supreme Court is to hear his case.

While Alex Magno in his column states that one of the reasons for Sereno’s downfall was her sloppy recordkeeping, this could probably still holds true as she had already been replaced a long time ago, as evidenced in the case of Mallari.

Could this be attributed to what Magno alleges, to the operations of a cabal of clerks and assistants form a powerful syndicate that is able to preempt the justices themselves?

Magno claims he has personally reviewed documents showing how a clerk at the Supreme Court released “quotations” from a decision that does not exist.

If not that, then what is holding the SC justices from hearing Mallari’s case for the last seven years?

The property involved here consists only of six hundred square meters located in Pampanga, not even in prime Metro Manila location. Mallari says he acquired this property through his labor.

If I’m not mistaken, the man is already in his 70s or 80s. All he wants is to retire peacefully on his earnings, for him to be restored as owner of the disputed property, which he insists he has lawfully acquired.

And all he asks from the Supreme Court is to hear his case and let him present his evidence and arguments.

Volcano disaster puts spotlight on NZ adventure tourism

By Neil Sands ADVENTURE tourism is a key part of New Zealand's international appeal but the White Island volcano eruption is a tragic reminder that such activities carry genuine risk that must be better explained to travellers, experts say.

The South Pacific nation offers a wealth of adrenaline-fuelled pursuits, from heli-skiiing on snow-capped mountains to ballooning and blackwater rafting through caves.

Some, such as bungee-jumping, jetboating and zorbing—where you hurl yourself down a hill inside an inflatable ball—were invented or popularized in a country that prides itself on catering to intrepid visitors.

The tourism industry as a whole is among New Zealand's biggest earners, generating about NZ$16.2 billion ($10.7 billion) and attracting 3.8-million international visitors annually.

"Adventure tourism is a massive sector in New Zealand. We are promoting ourselves as the adventure capital of the world," professor Michael Lueck, a tourism expert at Auckland University of Technology, told AFP. New Zealand is also renowned for

its rugged landscapes, which feature prominently films such as Kiwi director Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings."

Day-trips to White Island combined both, taking tourists including cruise ship passengers to a desolately beautiful island off the North Island coast where they could experience the thrill of standing on an active volcano.

Instead, at least 16 people are believed to have died and dozens suffered horrific burns when 47 tourists and guides were caught on the island during Monday's eruption.

The disaster has raised questions about why tourists were allowed on a volcano where experts had recently raised threat levels, as well as broader issues about the regulation of risky activities in the tourism sector.

"There will be bigger questions in relation to this event," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told parliament after the eruption.

"These questions must be asked, and they must be answered."

mass-fatality accident to affect tourists in New Zealand.

In 2015, seven people were killed when a scenic helicopter flight crashed into Fox Glacier. Two years earlier, a hot-air balloon claimed 11 lives and in 2010 nine died when a plane carrying skydivers plunged into a paddock.

Briton Chris Coker's son Brad, 24, died in the skydive plane crash and since then he has campaigned from afar for tighter regulations in New Zealand's adventure tourism sector.

"In my opinion, the New Zealand authorities... are still slapdash about tourist safety," Coker told news website stuff.co.nz after the White Island eruption.

"To run tourists there is insane. I know they signed a waiver and so on, but it's not really taking care of people."

Trade body Tourism Industry Aotearoa disputes such assessments, saying operators are "working within a world's best regulatory framework," but could not eliminate risk completely.

"Operators put safety first, but adventure activity inherently carries some risk and it's critical that 'adventure' reSlapdash or world's best?

The disaster on White Island—also mains in adventure tourism," TIA chief known as Whakaari—is not the first Turn to A5 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

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Opinion Justice in sight, finally THE nation anxiously awaits the verdict on the Ampatuan, Maguindanao massacre case scheduled to be handed down by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 presided by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes.

We welcome the Supreme Court’s decision to permit the live simulcast media coverage of the much anticipated culmination of agonizing fight justice for the 58 victims and their aggrieved families.

The long wait showcased the travesty of criminal justice procedures and the litigation process in the country.

It is indescribable what extreme mental, emotional and physical suffering those families have gone through as they marked the 10th anniversary of the monstrous crime last Nov. 23, a political violence that shocked the whole world. The bereaved families had to wait as the RTC asked the high court for more time to arrive at a verdict on the case.

The long wait showcased the travesty of criminal justice procedures and the litigation process in the country.

One cannot imagine the 10-year ordeal the families of the defenseless 58 victims in Ampatuan, including 34 media members, who were waylaid by over 100 heavily armed men some months before the 2010 elections.

It is significant that finally justice will be served under this administration which has proven to champion

Third Sunday...

From A4

the underdog.

Meanwhile, the reopening of the Mamasapano Massacre otherwise known as the SAF44 Massacre is being sought by the widowed families of the slain policemen as represented by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.

Incidentally, this other case of mass killings also took place in Maguindanao.

We support their plea to indict Noynoy Aquino, for plotting the disastrous Oplan Exodus along with expolice generals Alan Purisima and Getulio Napeñas.

The two cases of massacre dramatically demonstrate the grossly rotten and most hateful state of our justice system, particularly its prejudice against crime victims.

Just as horrifying is the tragedy of the 44 commandos of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police among those contingents ordered to implement the evil designs of Aquino and Purisima.

These nincompoops sent the SAF who ended up as sitting ducks in the territory of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and other rebel groups, and left the cops to die without reinforcement.

They should see their day in court and made to answer for their coldblooded crime with the appropriate charges.

Justice seems elusive for the SAF44 families. How much longer will they have to fight and wait in agony?

Still in many cases, it seems impossible to have the rich and powerful criminals to bring to justice and pay for their transgressions. They cannot be easily arrested, detained and charged in court as they are always assisted by private lawyers.

Signs of change bodes hopes for judicial, as well as criminal justice reforms, during the current administration.

We can only hope that the wind of change would usher in an era of truth and justice.

it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. In the end, Jesus is telling us to persevere and keep our faith just us he told the disciples of John the Baptist.

John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord. And now that Christ has gained for us our salvation, there is thus every reason to be joyful for He has made us into a new creation transcending everything that went before, even John himself. By His birth and resurrection, He entitled us to be partakers of His Kingdom on the condition that we positively respond to His invitation, cooperating with His mercy and love.

Christ is once again calling us— Veni! Come to me! Gaudeamus Igitur!

(Let us therefore rejoice!) for Christ is in us and with us. Let us therefore approach this Advent Season with faith and courage in the Lord, ever hopeful of His deliverance.

they began to fashion an idol in the shape of a calf for them to worship despite all the wondrous deeds that God has shown them in Egypt and in the wilderness.

When beset with these doubts, there is need to understand what His Word tells us about His goodness and faithfulness rather than understanding Him through our circumstances, feelings and emotions.

We must therefore remain vigilant, watchful and discerning so we will recognize Him amidst the topsyturvy world we ourselves in. The message of His birth, passion and death will more than abundantly prove His infinite love and mercy.

God does not say that following Him is easy. On the contrary, we are called to enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to de- Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina struction, and many enter through Twitter: tonylavs

Volcano...

From A4

executive Chris Roberts told AFP. "Operators take all practical actions to minimise the risks and the safety culture of individual operators remains the key factor in preventing accidents."

Roberts said the issue was not tourism operators, but the alert system they relied on at volcanic destinations such as White Island, which attracts about 17,000 visitors a year.

The GeoNet monitoring agency raised White Island's threat level in the week before the eruption but also advised current activity "does not pose a direct hazard to visitors."

"The reviews need to look at the science and specifically the guidance provided about volcanic activity, and whether the operating practices followed for the past 30 years need to change," Roberts said.

Understand the risks Travel companies such as White Island Tours brief customers before setting off and require them to sign a waiver declaring they understand the

risk, as well as supplying equipment such as hard-hats and gas masks.

However, some relatives of those affected by the eruption have expressed scepticism that their loved ones truly appreciated the potential danger they faced.

Options for legal redress are limited under New Zealand's Accident Compensation Commission scheme, which covers victims' medical bills and provides modest compensation but does not allow civil suits for damages.

Neither Roberts nor Lueck expected the White Island eruption to hit international arrivals in New Zealand, which have continued to climb despite major earthquakes in 2011 and 2016.

The nature of any review arising from White Island remains uncertain, but Lueck said at the very least tourists needed to be better informed about any risks.

"Operators and tourism boards should have tourists understand what these risks are, and not brush over quickly signing a waiver," he said.

"Only then can tourists make an informed decision and decide whether or not they want to take that particular risk." AFP

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019

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Lackadaisically condemning China’s NGCP participation Part II WHAT puzzles everybody is that we made a howl on the sale of the Manila Hotel on grounds that it is part of our national patrimony. Ironically, we never made a whimper of protest in the disposition of our supposedly vital and strategic industry involving the country’s transmission grid.

Now Congress wants to scrutinize China’s investment without taking into account the circumstances why the government had to dispose our transmission grid. Maybe it’s our desperate economic managers, in their eagerness to recoup the lost amount wasted by that decision to pay the loan of 2$.3 billion to construct the BNPP that came after NAPOCOR financially wobbled. Chopping NAPOCOR to separate entities would lessen the cost to investors willing to take the gamble.

Surprisingly, among the investors was the State Grid Corporation of China, Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp., and Calaca High Power Corp which paid $3.95 billion for which SGCC has already poured in P17 billion in 2009 for the improvements, maintenance and expansion of its operation.

Technically, NGCP remains owned by the state thought the National Transmission Corp. as provided in R.A. 9511or giving NGCP a franchise.

Section 8 of R.A. No. 9511 mandates the corporation “to make public offering of the shares representing at least 20 per centum of its outstanding capital stock or higher that may hereafter be provided by law within 10 years from the commencement of its operations.” That period began in 2009 and is supposed to end by 2019.

What is unusual about the privatization of our power industry, particularly the transmission grid aspect, is that the facilities remain owned by the government through the National Transmission Corp. The Department of Energy admits that NTC still controls about 6 percent of the whole transmission grid.

This aspect is confusing considering that NGCP has its own charter where the majority of the board has the power to decided and implement its program, with 40 percent presenting that of SGCC but limited to merely supervising the function or acting upon request to do some “trouble shooting activities” by the 60 percent controlling board. The two private partners already constitute a majority as required in Section 8, to quote: “The PSE of any company which directly or indirectly owns or controls at least 30 per centum of the outstanding shares of stock of the grantee (franchises) shall be considered full compliance of this requirement.”

The decision by the ERC to junk the petition filed by NTC and the Power Sector and Assets and Liabilities Management is misplaced much that Section 8 already gave NGCP a period of 10 years to “make public offering x xx Provided, the listing in the PSE of any company which directly or indirectly

Beethoven’s...

owns or controls represent at least 30 per centum of the outstanding shares of stock of the grantee (franchisee) shall be considered full compliance of the listing requirement.”

For the ERC now to give the two private partners an extension to comply with the “dispersal of ownership” is to unduly stretch what R.A. No. 9511 already provides. The grant for an extension beyond the 10-year period amounts to amending the law by mere motion which everybody knows cannot be done.

Good faith demands that we comply with our own laws on foreign investment.

Act x x x. This Section shall not apply to electric cooperatives.”

It seems that the ERC is the one stalling the implementation of the IPO. Our lawmakers now invoke the issue of national security, but naively ignoring that it was the decision by the Arroyo administration to dispose the country’s power industry to stave off the foreclosure by NAPOCOR’s creditors. It was China that offered the highest bid.

The privatization of NAPOCOR now appears as a privatization of our corporation to a foreign-owned state corporation. The approval of RA 9511 granted NGCP a congressional franchise of 25 years renewable for another 25 years. We sold by blaming corruption in government with our people wondering why it ended up in the hands of a foreign-owned state corporation.

Good faith demands that we comply with our own laws on foreign investment. In fact, among the three investors of NGCP, it is China’s SGCC that made the highest plow back of its earnings to help the country hurdle from the crises to bring down the cost of electricity. Sure, China can offer 20 percent from its 40-percent holdings for IPO, if being in fulfillment of its social responsibility if only we refrain from making nasty comments about its motivations.

Our senators are acting rudely by exhibiting more of their fear of the “co-location agreements” NGCP granted to other telecommunications company such as Globe Telecoms Inc. Smart Communications, Inc. and Digitel Mobile, Philippines Inc. There is anxiety that China Telecommunications which entered into a $5.4-billion investment agreement with Udenna Corp. owned by Dennis Uy would enter into similar “co-location agreement.”

Practically our senators now appear as spokespersons of the oligarchs who also acquired the franchise to distribute water and got the ire of President Rodrigo Duterte for suing the country to collect alleged P7.4-billion unpaid water bills. Ayala and Pangilinan are known to be the owners of Globe and Smart Telecommunications. Even if they already have existing facilities with NGCP, they fear NGCP would favor China for the fact that China Telecommunication are having the same corporate nationality with that of SGCC. In a deeper perspective, they fear just like their brokers Wall Street that the entry of China Telecommunication would pave the way for the full entry of China’s 5G system which the US has banned the use of Huawei’s communications system.

China’s 40-percent share entitles it to a three seats in the board 10 directors. But behind the alarmist talks if the fear of the oligarchs being overtaken in the lucrative business as service provider. Whether or not NGCP earns from these agreements is beside the point. The entry of China Telecommunications is a game changer for it will cost more for the existing telecommunications companies to install, replace and upgrade facilities just to compete with the new comer that will be using far newer and far more efficient models from China.

The NGCP, by the approval of RA 9511, was granted a congressional franchise of 25 years renewable for another 25 years. Likewise, China’s share in with NGCP cannot not be affected. SGCC is a state-owned corporation and is not listed in the PSE nor is open to public investment and is considered to have complied with the listing requirement.

Whatever conditions are imposed in the franchise like compliance to the dispersal of ownership strictly speaking affects only publicly listed domestic corporations. China did not violate the Constitution or any the provisions for our foreign investment laws. It is Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. and Calaca High Power Corp. that controls the majority of the stocks that refuses to comply.

The president of the TransCo cannot force NGCP to allow the corporation to have a seat in the board for the logical reason that NGCP is a private corporation. Granting TransCo a seat in the board should be specific indicating that TransCo represents the remaining 6 percent of the country transmission grid it still controls and operate. In the case of China, the government badly needs the money to rescue our power industry caused by the lackadaisical decision to flush into the septic tank an amount of $2.3 billion by an obfuscated government with much hatred of the Marcos administration.

Before some members of Congress start rattling China to divert 20 percent of its 40-percent holdings for IPO, they better recall that a similar law was passed requiring public utilities to divest up to 75 percent of their holdings enacted on June 8, 2001, it specifically requires in Section 28 of R.A. No. 9136 to quote: “In compliance with the constitutional mandate for dispersal of ownership and demonopolization of public utilities, the holdings of persons, natural or juridical, including directors, officers, stockholders and related interests, in a distribution utility and their respective holding companies shall not exceed 25 percent of the voting shares of stock unless the utility or the company holding the shares or its controlling stockholders are already listed in the PSE: Provided, that controlling stockholders of small distribution utilities are hereby required to list within five (5) years from the enactment of this rpkapunan@gmail.com

the governing coalition's agreement in 2013.

The year of celebrations begins on From A1 Dec. 16—believed to be his 249th "The progress has been impressive, birthday—with the opening of his even if the computer still has a lot to home in Bonn as a museum after extensive renovation. learn," said Christine Siegert, head of archives at Beethoven House in the Scope for improvement composer's hometown of Bonn.

Beethoven began working on the Siegert said she was "convinced" that Beethoven would have approved Tenth Symphony alongside his Ninth, since he too was an innovator at the which includes the world-famous time, citing his compositions for the "Ode To Joy." But he quickly gave up on the Tenth, panharmonicon—a type of organ that reproduces the sounds of wind and leaving only a few notes and drafts by the time he died aged 57. percussion instruments.

In the project, machine-learning And she insisted the work would not affect his legacy because it would software has been fed all of Beethovnever be regarded as part of his oeuvre. en's work and is now composing posThe final result of the project will sible continuations of the symphony be performed by a full orchestra on in the composer's style.

Deutsche Telekom, which is sponApril 28 next year in Bonn, a centerpiece of celebrations for a composer soring the project, hopes to use the who defined the romantic era of clas- findings to develop technology such as voice recognition. sical music.

The team said the first results a few Beethoven, Germany's most famous musical figure, is so loved in months ago were seen as too mechanihis homeland that a duty to prepare cal and repetitive but the latest AI comfor the anniversary was written into positions have been more promising.

Barry Cooper, a British composer and musicologist who himself wrote a hypothetical first movement for the Tenth Symphony in 1988, was more doubtful.

"I listened to a short excerpt that has been created. It did not sound remotely like a convincing reconstruction of what Beethoven intended," said Cooper, a professor at the University of Manchester and the author of several works on Beethoven.

"There is, however, scope for improvement with further work." Cooper warned that "in any performance of Beethoven's music, there is a risk of distorting his intentions" but this was particularly the case for the Tenth Symphony as the German composer had left only fragmentary material.

Similar AI experiments based on works by Bach, Mahler and Schubert have been less than impressive.

A project earlier this year to complete Schubert's Eighth Symphony was seen by some reviewers as being closer to an American film soundtrack than the Austrian composer's work. AFP

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News

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019

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FIRE VICTIMS.

A funeral personnel carry the dead body of Rowel Camero after a fire incident in a residential area in Manila on Dec. 13, 2019. According to report, a fight between Camero and his wife, Anina Rose Tejas, resulted to a stabbing incident.

Tejas was rushed to the hospital while Camero died due to suffocation when he locked himself in the comfort room while the house was burning.

Norman Cruz

Hontiveros bares ‘discreet’ control of NGCP

by Chinese firms AN OPPOSITION lawmaker has decried the alleged discreet takeover of Chinese nationals at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, revealing that the NGCP has given them clout beyond advisory roles and awarded 43 contracts to Chinese firms.

In a privilege speech, Senator Risa Hontiveros bared that Chinese nationals are exercising leadership and management roles in the country’s power grid, amid concerns about foreign control of the country’s electric power system.

“Materials for the infrastructure of the transmission lines have been supplied by Chinese firms using Chinese designed technology. I am prepared to show you a list of Chinese corporations that won contracts with the NGCP. Makikita sa listahan na ito na 43 contracts have been awarded to Chinese corporations,” she said.

The lady senator countered the statement of NGCP that State Grid Corporation of China, which has 40 percent stake in the country’s grid, is merely a technical adviser’.

“Mawalang galang, ngunit ito ay pinabubulaanan ng mga dokumentong nakarating sa aking tanggapan,” she said.

Hontiveros said the documents would prove that Chinese national Wen Bo was named NGCP chief technical officer, while a certain Liu Zhaoquiang was appointed assistant chief technical officer for Operations and Maintenance.

“Correct me if I am wrong, but if your designation is operation and maintenance, you work in the nuts and bolts of the enterprise. Ang malala pa, the current chairperson of the NGCP is Zhu Guangchao of the State Grid Corporation of China,” the senator said, citing a news report.

Hontiveros said with Chinese nationals at the helm, it is of little surprise that Filipino engineers are regularly sent to China to participate in training programs hosted by the State Grid Corporation of China.

“Ang chairman Chinese, halos lahat ng contractors Chinese, ang systems software made in China, at ang training sa China, pero dapat magtiwala at maniwala tayo na ito ay “Filipino-run”?

It is my duty as a legislator to sound this alarm. It is our duty as the legislature to ensure that the interests of Filipinos are adequately protected,” added Hontiveros.

PROTEST VS. DENGVAXIA.

Relatives of the victim who died allegedly due to Dengvaxia vaccine join the protest near the Malacañang Palace at Mendiola in Manila on Dec. 13.

The Department of Justice is set to wrap up its preliminary investigation of the fourth batch of Dengvaxia case complaints.

Norman Cruz

Top companies commit to resolve ‘garbage crisis’

T

OP executives of major companies have committed to support Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu’s call for collaboration between the government and the private sector to address what he called a “garbage crisis” in Metro Manila.

In the recent Pilipinas Conference hosted by the Stratbase Group in Bonifacio Global City, leaders from the government, the private sector, the academe and environmental advocacy groups pushed for a balanced approach and harmonized solutions to the waste problem.

“A smarter approach other than the traditional regulatory tools imposing bans or taxes is to focus on instilling discipline for consumers to responsibly dispose of trash in parallel with enabling policies that encourage new innovations for packaging materials and waste management systems," said professor Dindo Manhit, managing director and CEO of Stratbase Group.

“Stewardship of the environment should be everybody’s concern. The task to protect and preserve the environment is not just the government’s business, it’s everybody’s business,” Manhit said.

Coca-Cola Philippines general manager and president Winn Everhart presented the beverage company's “World Without Waste” global initiative during the conference.

Under the initiative, the company aims “to collect and recycle every bottle or can sold by 2030.” It also committed to build a P1-billion PET bottle recycling facility— the first in Southeast Asia that would substantially reduce the waste leakage in the Mega-Manila area.

Everhart said Coca-Cola Philippines also teamed up with non-government organizations through the Blastik project—a full circle collection and recycling program in 13 areas including Bataan, Cavite, Albay, Baler, Palawan, Siargao, Davao, Boracay, La Union, Negros Occidental, Marinduque, Sarangani and Metro Manila.

Unilever Philippines chairman Benjie Yap, on his part, discussed the company's "Zero Waste to Nature" program and its “ambitious new commitments to collect and process more than it sells and halve use of virgin plastic.” The initiative commits to produce 100-percent reusable, recyclable and compostable packaging by 2025 and invest in technical solution to recycle sachets produced by the industry.

Unilever also presented ongoing environment programs such as the “Misis Walastik” which collects sachet waste in more than 300 communities in Metro Manila; the “Kolek Kilo Kita para sa Walastik na Maynila” which incentivizes plastic waste collection under the “May Pera sa Basura” project of Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Domagoso; and other innovations in sustainable packaging and alternative delivery systems.

Meanwhile, Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez stressed the importance of having sustainability strategies. He said the west zone water concessionaire invested some P40.7 billion in the non-revenue water program where 360,000 leaks were repaired in 2,300 kilometers of old pipes, resulting in the recovery of 700 million liters in the last 12 years.

Remove VAT from all medicines—Imee US, AFP inaugurate

By Macon Ramos-Araneta BELIEVING that the Universal Health Care will take a "backseat" as the sin tax bill will not be passed before Congress adjourned this December, Senator Imee Marcos has said that all prescription medicines should be exempted from value-added tax.

"Why don’t we remove the VAT from all the prescription medicines," she asked.

"Why don’t we remove VAT from all medicines because no one wants to get sick and to have to buy medicine so let’s do that first of all…at least let’s help the public a little bit," she added.

Marcos also took potshots at the Department of Health for the possible delay in the implementation of universal health for all Filipinos.

She told reporters in an interview that until now, Health Secretary Francisco Duque has no clear details on how they will roll out UHC. "The truth is—until now, we don’t know

the real cost of the universal health care, when exactly is the rollout, how much will be released each year," said Marcos.

She also questioned if the DOH can do it or will the medicines end up expired and stored in storage warehouses. "That’s our problem," she said.

She also raised doubts on the absorptive capacity of PhilHealth which will take charge of the funds for the UHC implementation.

"Ngayon pa lang, katakut-takot na corruption na sa Philhealth, paano pa if bibigyan sila ng bilyones," she aqid.

In the meantime, she said the government can remove VAT on prescriptive medicines.

She said the government had already earlier exempted from VAt medication for diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension.

"VAT can be removed from prescriptive medicine after all. Why don’t we remove other medicine as well…It seems that we’re making it seem like a luxury item," she said.

peacekeeping facility built in Tarlac THE Armed Forces of the Philippines has inaugurated a United Statesfunded peacekeeping operations training facility in Tarlac on Thursday, Dec. 12.

In a statement, the US Embassy in Manila said the facility was funded under the auspices of the Global Peace Operations Initiative, a US State Department-funded security assistance program focused on strengthening the international capacity and capabilities of partner nations to execute United Nations and regional peace operations.

During the inauguration, the AFP officially opened the Peacekeeping Operations Center and a dining facility.

The center will provide training and administrative services to AFP personnel participating in peacekeeping operations, in support of the Philippines’ international commitments, the statement said.

A barracks is also being built under the same initiative and is scheduled for completion in late 2020.

The inauguration, which was attended by Major General Andres C. Centino, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Armed Forces of the Philippines, included the ceremonial turning over of keys and the planting of a tree.

Since their signing of the UN charter in 1945, the Philippines has participated in a variety of peacekeeping operations around the world.

“The United States, as a longstanding friend, partner, and ally of the Philippines, continues to provide support to the AFP through funding projects, equipment transfers and bilateral exercises,” the US Embassy said. Rey E. Requejo

SC upholds conviction of Jason Ivler for murder

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has sustained the conviction of Jason Ivler for the killing of the son of former Malacañang official in a road rage incident in Quezon City in 2009.

In a two-page resolution dated Nov. 11, 2019, the SC’s Second Division denied the appeal of Ivler for "failure to sufficiently show that the Court of Appeals committed any reversible error in the assailed decision as to warrant the exercise of the Court's appellate jurisdiction."

The high court also upheld the sentence of reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years of imprisonment imposed against Ivler, but it modified the damages awarded to the family of his victim, then 27-year-old Renato Ebarle Jr. The tribunal ordered the family of Ivler to compensate Ebarle's family for the loss of earning capacity in the amount of P9.12 million. The amount will be on top of the other penalties that needed to be paid, such as the P616,590 in actual damages or the cost of the burial expenses, P75,000 in moral damages, P75,000 in exemplary damages, and P75,000 in civil indemnity.

IN BRIEF SIPAG hands P6m to 22 co-ops SENATOR Cynthia Villar’s SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) has given almost P6 million cash to 22 cooperatives in recognizing their role in improving the quality of life of its members, especially in the countryside.

Villar, also SIPAG director, said the indispensable role of cooperatives in the realization of the people’s common aspiration especially in the rural areas should be recognized.

"Through this award that we give out yearly, we hope to be able to encourage them and provide support to their projects,” she said.

The awardees each received P250,000 in cash from the Villar SIPAG. Two cooperatives which received special citations were granted P150,000 each.

The Villar family, composed of former Senate President Manny Villar, Senator Cynthia Villar, Vista Land chief executive officer Paolo Villar, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar handed the awards to representatives of the cooperatives coming from different parts of the country. Macon Ramos-Araneta

2 Americans, Korean deported THE Bureau of Immigration ordered Friday the deportation of two Americans and a Korean who are all wanted fugitives from justice in their homelands.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the three aliens were arrested in separate operations in northern and central Luzon as well as in Manila by operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit.

“They will all be deported for being undesirable aliens and for being undocumented as their passports have either expired or were already canceled by their respective governments,” the BI chief said.

Morente said the three were arrested at the request of the American and South Korean embassies in Manila which want them deported so they could be prosecuted and sentenced for their crimes.

The three were identified as Alvin Buguina Go Tan and Ephraim Hizon Garcia, both American citizens, and Choi Beomki, a Korean. Vito Barcelo

Subway proponents allot P20m per year THE proponents of the Makati City Subway project have allotted P20 million per year for an exclusive scholarship and employment program for qualified students, graduates, and teachers from the city-run University of Makati.

This, after Mayor Abigail Binay, acting UMak president, formalized Thursday the partnership project by signing an agreement with Ren Jinhua, chairman of Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc., MCSI’s parent company, on Thursday at City Hall.

Under the agreement, qualified students, graduates or professors of UMak will have the opportunity to study and graduate from the College of Civil Engineering of Tongji University in Shanghai, China. Graduates of the scholarship program shall also be given guaranteed employment in management and/or technical positions in the Makati Subway System. Joel Zurbano

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

marriages, thus: First, in Annex “A” of the Affidavit Complaint, the Respondent stated another simulated or fictitious Marriage National Capital Judicial Region Contract for a marriage ceremony between the Petitioner and the Respondent on 16 January 1992 in Aurora, Quezon.

BRANCH 107, QUEZON CITY However, this marriage was not registered in the Civil Registry of Aurora, Quezon; SAMSON G. DE LEON, Second. in Annex “B” of said Affidavit Complaint, the Petitioner, Respondent asserted a simulated or fictitious Marriage -versusCASE NO. R-QZN-18-13565-CV Contract for a marriage ceremony between the Petitioner and the Respondent on 21 July 1993 in Manila. However, this LIZA CONCEPCION M. marriage was not registered in the Civil Registry of Manila; AGUILAR & LCR-Manila, Third, in Annex “C” of the Affidavit Complaint, the Respondents, Respondent claimed another simulated or fictitious Marriage x-----------------------------------------x Contract for a marriage ceremony between the Petitioner and SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION the Respondent on 21 July 1993 in Quezon City. However, this TO: LlZA CONCEPCION M. AGUILAR - with marriage was not registered in the Civil Registry of Quezon last known address at 35 B Villegas St., SFDM, City; and Quezon City Fourth, in Annex “D” of the Affidavit Complaint, the Respondent stated different simulated or fictitious Marriage Greetings: Contract for a marriage ceremony between the Petitioner and The petitioner prays that after due hearing, judgment the Respondent on 21 July 1993 in Manila City Hall, Manila. be rendered declaring the marriage between the However, this marriage was not registered in the Civil Registry petitioner and the respondent null and void pursuant to of Manila.

A copy of the Affidavit Complaint, dated 9 September 2015, Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Family Code. is hereto attached as Annex “B”.

Pursuant to the Order dated August 6, 2019 granting Clearly, there was no wedding or marriage ceremony the petitioner’s request to effect service of Summons by Publication, this Summons by Publication was issued between the Petitioner Samson G. De Leon and Respondent Liza Concepcion M. Aguilar. The purported marriages in consonance with Section 14, Rule 14 of the Rules of between Petitioner Samson G. De Leon and Respondent Liza Court.

Concepcion M. Aguilar are all simulated or fictitious marriages.

NOW, THEREFORE, respondent, LlZA CONCEPCION 8. Petitioner Samson G. De Leon and Respondent Liza M. AGUILAR - with last known address at 35 B Villegas Concepcion M. Aguilar never maintained a conjugal dwelling St., SFDM, Quezon City, is hereby summoned and and have no conjugal properties and have not acquired any required to file with the Regional Trial Court Branch real property in the Philippines.

107, National Capital Judicial Region, Hall of Justice 9. It is clear that the subject Certificate of Marriage, dated Bldg., Quezon City, her answer to the instant petition 15 November 2012, and the marriage ceremony, is simulated within thirty (30) days from last date of publication of this or fictitious. Said Certificate of Marriage is absolutely null and summons. Failure of the respondent to file her answer void because of the lack of consent and/or true signature of within the reglementary period, this Court will direct the the Petitioner Samson G. De Leon and the absence of any Public Prosecutor to investigate whether collusion exists marriage ceremony. Thus, the supposed marriage of Petitioner between the parties. If the court is convinced that there is Samson G. De Leon with Respondent Liza Concepcion M. no collusion, the petitioner shall be allowed to present her Aguilar may be declared null and void pursuant to Articles 2, 3, and 4 of the Family Code, as amended. evidence in support of the petition.

WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable WHEREFORE, let this summons, together with a copy of the Petition, be published once a week for Court that, after proper proceedings, judgment be rendered by: two (2) consecutive weeks a newspaper ofteam generalwith their president Philip Juico Members of the PHin athletics’ 1. Declaring the Certificate of Marriage, dated 15 November circulation, to be selected by raffle pursuant to P.D 1079, at the expense of the petitioner. Likewise, let a copies of 2012, and/or the marriage of Petitioner Samson G. De Leon with Respondent Liza Concepcion M. Aguilar on 15 November the summons and the Petition be sent by registered mail 2012, in Manila, Philippines, as null and void pursuant to addressed to the respondent at her last known address, Articles 2, 3, and 4 of the Family Code, as amended. also at the expense of the petitioner and to submit to this 2. Ordering Public Respondent Civil Registry of Manila court proof of compliance therewith. to cancel or nullify the Certificate of Marriage, dated 15 WITNESS THE HONORABLE JOSE L. BAUTISTA, November 2012, involving Petitioner Samson G. De Leon and JR., Presiding Judge of this Court, this 20th day of August Respondent Liza Concepcion M. Aguilar.

2019, in Quezon City, Philippines .

Other just and equitable remedies and reliefs are likewise prayed for.

(Sgd.) ATTY. ANIHAIRAH B. HADJI OMAR Branch Clerk of Court Manila, for Quezon City, 12 October 2018.

Sports

Republic of the Philippines Standard REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

TODAY

Manila

A7

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

By Peter Atencio

T

SAMSON G. DE LEON, Petitioner, - versus CIVIL CASE NO. R-QZN 18 -13565-CV FOR: DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF MARRlAGE

(Sgd.) ATTY. AVERILL J. AMOR Unit 710, Trinity Building 636 T. M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila IBP No. 00477 - Life Roll, Roll of Attorneys No. 33963 PTR No. 7177348 - 2/15/18 - Manila MCLE Compliance No. V-0024209 - 11108/16 - Pasig City Email -averilijamor@yahoo.com/Cell No. 09275518349

RACKSTERS, who won medals in the recent 30th VERIFICATlON Southeast Asian Games, are set to getof legal more incentives I, SAMSON G. DE LEON, Filipino, age, after having been sworn to in accordance with law, do hereby depose and from other sources. state that:

LIZA CONCEPCIONAthletics M. Philippine Track and ippines have acase; low of six and a 1. I am the Petitioner inwill the above-entitled AGUILAR and the CIVIL Field Chairman high of 12 gold medals in games.

REGISTRY OF MANILA, Rufus Rodriguez 2. I have caused the above Petition or pleading to be prepared Respondent. Thursday’s vicsaid this following Theand understood “unexpected” goldThemedals and have read the contents thereof. x------------------------------------------x allegations therein are true andjavelin correct basedthrower on my personalMelvin tory celebration at the Sheraton Hocame from PETITION knowledge and authentic records; telCOMES inside Resorts World Calano and heptathlete Aries Toledo.

NOW,the the Petitioner, Samson G. De Manila Leon, through undersigned counsel and unto this Honorable 3. I have not commenced any other action or proceedingfeat of Complex in Pasay City.

The 110-meter hurdles’ Court, most respectfully states that: involving the same case or issues in the Supreme Court, the “Members of the House of RepreClinton Kingsley Bautista was also 1. The Petitioner, Samson G. De Leon, is a Filipino, Court of Appeals or other divisions thereof, or any other court, of legal age, and with address at No. 25 contributions Narra St., South tribunal or agency.

I the previously filed Civil Case No. RQZN-17sentatives are making one of surprises.

Green Park Village, Tandang Sora, Quezon City, where he 13122-CV before Branch 107, Regional Trial Court, Quezon to athletes.

They are passing On the final day of athletics, Toledo maythe be served with notices, and other processes of this the City, but said case was dismissed without prejudice; Honorable Court. hat,” said Rodriguez, a congressman earned the region’s “strongest man” 2. The Respondent, Liza Concepcion M. Aguilar, is 4. Should I learn, thereafter, that a similar action or proceeding from the ofsecond district ofat No. Cagayan tag in retaining the men’s decathlon also a Filipino, legal age, and with address 35 B has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Villegas St., San Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City, where de Oro. crown, when he accumulated 7033 she may be served with summons, notices, and other Court of Appeals or any other court, or tribunal, I undertake to promptlypoints inform the aforesaid and such gold other tribunal or since processes this Honorable Court.raked in 11 gold The ofPhilippines for hiscourts second since agency of that within five (5) days therefrom.

3.

The Public Respondent, Civil Registry of Manila, medals, eight silvers and eight bronz- 2017. is a government entity in charge of the registration of IN WITNESSEric WHEREOF, I hereunto affixed signature medal this es and relating placed third behind Vietnam Cray kept themy gold in documents to birth, marriage, death, and adoption, and with address at the Manila City Hall, Manila, where 15 OCT 2018 day of October 2018. and the men’s 400-meter hurdles while it mayThailand. be served with summons, notices, and other processes of this Honorable Court. were right on (Sgd.) SAMSON G. DE LEON Athletics officials also striking gold in the 4x100 4. In 2016, Petitioner Samson G. De Leon discovered track in their projection that the Philmixed relay with Eloiza Luzon, the existence of a simulated or fictitious Certificate of REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) Marriage purportedly signed by him as “Husband” in a marriage ceremony with the Respondent Liza Concepcion M. Aguilar. Said certificate of Marriage was purportedly signed by the Petitioner Samson G. De Leon during a wedding in Manila. Philippines, on 15 November 2012, and registered with Public Respondent Civil Registry of Manila.

A copy of said Certificate of Marriage, dated 15 November 2012, is hereto attached as Annex “A”.

5. Petitioner Samson G. De Leon did not consent to any marriage before a solemnizing officer nor sign the said Certificate of Marriage in Manila, Philippines, on 15 November 2012.

Furthermore, Petitioner Samson G. De Leon did not also participate in a wedding or marriage ceremony with Respondent Liza Concepcion M. Aguilar on 15 November 2012 in Manila, Philippines. Moreover, Petitioner Samson G. De Leon did not also cause the registration of said Certificate of Marriage before Public Respondent Civil Registry of Manila.

6. Definitely, Respondent Liza Concepcion M. Aguilar falsified or forged the signature of Petitioner Samson G. De Leon in the afore-stated Certificate of Marriage in a wedding or marriage ceremony which never occurred or happened, and caused the registration of said Certificate of Marriage before Public Respondent Civil Registry of Manila.

7. In an Affidavit Complaint, dated 9 September 2015, Respondent Liza Concepcion M. Aguilar, under oath, exhibited her propensity to falsify or forge documents and

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION TO:

Name

Competent Evidence of Identity SC#24389-3

Date/Place Issued Samson G. 5/10/12 De Leon QC who was identified by me through competent evidence of identity to be the same person described in the foregoing instrument, who acknowledged before me that his signature on the instrument was voluntarily affixed by him for the purposes stated therein, and who declared to me that he executed the instrument as his free and voluntary act and deed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and affix my notarial seal on the date and at the place above written.

Doc. No. 236 Page No. 49 Book No. XLIV Series of 2018.

(MStandard-Nov. 20 & 27, 2019)

The petitioner prays that after due hearing, judgment be rendered declaring sole parental authority and custody over minors MEEKHYLE AVERY DAMIAN,LEEHVYNE AVERY DAMIAN, and LLOYD ANDREW DAMIAN in favor of their mother, the petitioner herein.

Pursuant to the Order dated October 22, 2019 granting the petitioner’s request to effect service of Summons by Publication, this Summons by Publication was issued in consonance with Section 14, Rule 14 of the Rules of Court.

NOW, THEREFORE, respondent, LOWELL LEGASPI DAMIAN - with last known address at Blk. 100 Lot 6 Area D, Purok 1, Brgy. Sta. Cruz 1, Sapang Palay, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, is hereby summoned and required to file with the Regional Trial Court Branch 107, National Capital Judicial Region, Hall of Justice Bldg., Quezon City, his answer to the instant petition within thirty (30) days from last date of publication of this summons. Failure of the respondent to file his answer within the reglementary period, the petitioner shall be allowed to present her evidence in support of the petition.

WHEREFORE, let this summons, together with a copy of the Petition, be published once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation, to be selected by raffle pursuant to P.D 1079, at the expense of the petitioner. Likewise, let a copies of the summons and the Petition be sent by registered mail addressed to the respondent at his last known address, also at the expense of the petitioner and to submit to this court proof of compliance therewith.

WITNESS THE HONORABLE JOSE L. BAUTISTA, JR., Presiding Judge of this Court, this 22nd day of October 2019, in Quezon City, Philippines.

Makati FC joins Asian Cup THE MAKATI FC’s boys’ U11 team is currently competing in Jakarta, Indonesia for the threeday Asiana Cup. Among those teams which were invited to compete are TCFA from Taiwan, T-Eleven and Asiana from Indonesia, Rowville Eagles from Australia, Jim Thompson from Thailand, NFDP from Malaysia and Bears from Laos. In the tournament which will last until Sunday, the teams will meet in a round-robin series, where three points will be awarded for a win, one point for a draw and zero for a loss.

This will be the last international tournament that Makati FC will be competing in for 2019.

The multi-titled youth football

Tolentino...

club is set to compete in more international tournaments next year starting with TAR Asia Qualifiers 7-aside on Feb. 15 and 16 in Bangkok, where the winner will get an all-expense trip to Spain.

Also lined up for Makati FC is JSSL Sinagpore 7, the biggest youth tournament in Asia with 400 teams competing from 17 countries on April 9 to 13, followed by two Europe sojourns the Gothia World Youth Cup and another tournament in Denmark on July 5 to 22.

Makati FC recently emerged as the Borneo Cup champion for Boys U15 and silver medalists for U14 and 13 group. The club also won the SingaCup boys U14 gold and U13 silver.

The home-court advantage, according to Tolentino, played From A8 a major role for the victory with the local fans cheering wildly ing the 387-medal haul by Team for each and every Filipino who Philippines that included 149 competed in the Games.

NOTICE PUBLIC gold, 118 silverTO andTHE 120 bronze “It was one big, big effort. WinNotice is hereby given that a Deed medals. ningof the overall championship Extrajudicial of the Estate So dominantPartition was Team Philwasofnot solely on the athletes’ the late Edilberto V. Pozon who died ippines that Filipino athletes left shoulders, but each and every intestate was executed by his heirs their opponents eating dust. Viet- Filipino,” Tolentino said. namely Eveline Z. Pozon, widow and nam was a far second with 98 The competitions went on children, Geraldine Michelle Z. Pozon gold, 85 silver and 105 bronzes, smoothly—with Typhoon Tisoy and Angelica Emilia Z. Pozon as per followed by Thailand with 92momentarily stalling the schedDoc. No.___; Page No.:___; Book 123-103 (gold-silver-bronze), Inules—with the writing on the No.:__; Series No.:___before Notary donesia 72-84-11 and Malaysia wall showing the Filipino athlete Public Atty.__________.

(MStandard-Dec. xx, xx & xx, has 2019) 55-58-71. made his mark.

29. The Parties had been living separate lives since 2007. From the time the children were born up to the present, Petitioner had always been the parent exercising actual parental authority over them as Respondent had not shown any concern or inclination to perform any of his fatherly duties.

30. Despite Petitioner’s need to be abroad from time-to-time, being an OFW before, she maintained a healthy relationship with her children.10 She always found the time to keep in touch with them and look after their best interest. After all, working abroad is just a means to secure a better life for her loved ones back home. Petitioner regularly sent them remittances for their subsistence and education. Financial support is just part and parcel of what she gives her children. More than that, she provides them her love, care, time and affection. Petitioner has also been at the forefront of decision-making on matters that affect the children such as the choice of their abode and the school to enroll in.

31. As narrated above, Petitioner is more than capable to exercise exclusive parental authority over her children. Currently, she has ample resources and time to take care of her children without any support whatsoever from the Respondent. Petitioner is likewise physically and mentally equipped as well as morally fit for the role.

32. Petitioner is likewise physically and mentally equipped as well as morally fit for the role. Petitioner’s physical and mental fitness is evidenced by the Medical Certificate11 dated 28 November 2018 issued by Dr. Samuel S. Duran, MD, FPCP, to wit: “This is to certify that MS. LORIE LYN KOSTER was seen and examined today by the undersigned and was found to be PHYSICALLY and MENTALLY FIT and HEALTHY.” 33. As to Petitioner’s capacity to financially provide for her children, she had, in fact, been supporting them without any support from the Respondent. Moreover, Petitioner’s husband, Mr. Koster, is more than capable to provide for her and her children.12 He has always considered them as part of his family and never showed any prejudiced towards any of them. On the contrary, Mr. Koster has been nothing but a caring and loving father figure to Meekhyle, Leehvyne, and Lloyd.

34. On the other hand, Respondent is an unfit parent as he had consistently and deliberately refused to perform his paternal duties. During the time the children were residing in Respondent’s parents’ residence, he was content with letting his parents look after the children. While Petitioner was busy with household and baby chores, Respondent was out gallivanting with his friends. Respondent did not look for a job to support his family. He had no sense of responsibility or urgency in life. As of date, he works as a cook. He does not provide even token support nor does he lift a finger to visit his children. For all the above reasons, Respondent is clearly unfit to have custody of and to exercise parental authority over them.

35. It is worthwhile to revisit the Supreme Court’s Decision in the case of Nerissa Z. Perez vs. Court of Appeals 13 which held that: “Only the most compelling of reasons shall justify the court’s awarding the custody of such a child to someone other than his mother, such as her unfitness to exercise sole parental authority. In the past the following grounds have been considered ample justification to deprive a mother of custody and parental authority: neglect, abandonment, unemployment and immorality, habitual drunkenness, drug addiction, maltreatment of the child, insanity and being sick with a communicable disease.

(Sgd.) ATTY. ANIHAIRAH B. HADJI OMAR Branch Clerk of Court

Anfernee Lopena and double-gold medalist Kristina Knott, the 200-m winner.

Other gold medalists were EJ Obiena in the Men’s Pole Vault, William Morrison in the Men’s Shot Put, Sarah Dequinan in the Women’s heptathlon and Christine Hallasgo in the Women’s Marathon.

Team Philippines could get an estimated total of as much as P126.5 million in incentives for their achievements in the bienneal meet.

The cash bonanza will be given to athletes on Dec. 18 when they meet President Rodrigo Duterte during the awarding of incentives to all the winners in Malacañang.

A total of 149 golds medals, 118 silvers and 120 bronzes were collected during the 12-day meet.

For now, gold medallists could get as much as P81.950-million in bonuses.

Freego Cup begins today; SBU vs Xavier THE 8th Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship Freego Cup opens today with reigning NCAA champion San Beda University looking to launch its title bid in grand fashion at the SGS gym in Quezon City.

Games Today (SGS gym, QC)

Rain or Shine’s Javee Mocon is the special guest during the opening of the Freego Cup.

LOWELL LEGASPI DAMIAN - with last known address at Blk. 100 Lot 6 Area D, Purok 1, Brgy. Sta. Cruz 1, Sapang Palay, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan

Greetings:

CITY OF MANILA ) s.s.

I certify that on this date, before me, a notary public duly authorized in the City named above to take acknowledgements, personally appeared:

TODAY NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 107, QUEZON CITY

LORIE-LYN LOPE KOSTER, Petitioner, -versusCivil Case No. R-QZN-18-15647-CV LOWELL LEGASPI DAMIAN, Respondent. x -----------------------------------------------x

Tracksters to get more incentives from House REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDCIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 107, QUELON CITY

There is thus no question that Respondent Loreta, being the mother of and having sole parental authority over the minor, is entitled to have custody of him. She has the right to keep him in her company. She cannot be deprived of that right, and she may not even renounce or transfer it “except in the cases authorized by law.” [emphasis supplied]

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Standard Regional Trial Court

9 a.m. – LSGH vs La Consolacion 10:45 a.m. – SSC-R vs Ateneo 1 p.m. – Opening Ceremony 2 p.m. – San Beda vs Xavier 3:45 p.m. – FEU vs Lyceum

Already proud owners of two titles in the tournament dubbed as “Battle of Champions,” the Red Cubs collide with the Xavier Golden Stallions at 2 p.m. before Far Eastern University and Lyceum cap the heavy fourmatch opener at 3:45 p.m.

Clashing in the opening at 9 a.m. are last year’s runner-up La Salle Greenhills and first-timer La Consolacion College while San Sebastian College tackles Ateneo at 10:45 a.m.

Isko Moreno, the tough but charismatic Manila mayor, will be the special guest along with Rain or Shine star rookie and former PSSBC Finals MVP and San Beda’s Clint Doliquez —the league inaugural MVP—in the short opening ceremony starting at 1 p.m. Moreno will also do the ceremonial toss along with PSSBC chairman and Freego big boss Eduard Tio. Rain of Shine’s Javee Mocon is today’s special guest.

“We are all thrilled to have the well-loved Manila Mayor as our special guest. We are certain he could further motivate our young ballers to dream big and play hard,” said Tio. Also expected to grace the opening ceremony are the other Governors of the Board—Dioceldo Sy of Blackwater Sports, Jimi Lim of IronCon Builders, Jimmy dela Cruz of Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Rudy Yu of Macbeth Underwear, Dr. Cecilio Pedro of Hapee Toothpaste, Leoncio Chua and Terry Que of Poly Gloss-Rain or Shine.

Reigning UAAP champion National University starts its title-retention bid in the tournament also backed by Gerry’s Grill, Sumo GI Sheet, Cherrylume, Choi Garden and Molten against La Consolacion on Sunday.

Out to lead the Manu Iñigo-mentored Red Cubs are Rhayyan Amsali, Yukien Andrada, Winston Ynot and Justine Sanchez while Keith Wongchuking, Ryan Yu and Miguel Go will spearhead Xavier’s title bid.

Wongchuking is expected to be a marked man after exploding for a career-high 44 points highlighted by 14 triples.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Quezon City Branch 107

It has long been settled that in custody cases, the foremost consideration is always the welfare and best interest of the child. In fact, no less than an international instrument, the Convention on the Rights of the Child provides: “In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.”

In re: Petition for Declaration of Sole Custody and Parental Authority over Minor Children MEEKHYLE AVERY DAMIAN, LEEHVYNE AVERY DAMIAN, and LLOYD ANDREW DAMIAN LORIE LYN LOPE KOSTER, Petitioner, - versus -

SP. Proc. No. R-QZN-18-15647-CV

LOWELL LEGASPI DAMIAN, Respondent. x----------------------------------------------------------x

Courts invariably look into all relevant factors presented by the contending parents, such as their material resources, social and moral situations.”

36. Based on the afore-cited laws and jurisprudence as well as the factual backdrop of this case, Petitioner had shown herself to be capable of exercising sole parental authority and custody over her children while Respondent had consistently evinced the opposite. Petitioner had fulfilled and continues to carry out the duties of a parent with flying colors as enumerated in Article 22014 of the Family Code, to wit: “Art. 220. “The parents and those exercising parental authority shall have with respect to their unemancipated children or wards the following rights and duties:

PETITION

Petitioner, by and through the undersigned counsel, unto this Honorable Court, respectfully avers that: 1. Petitioner LORIE-LYN LOPE KOSTER, is of legal age, female, Filipino, married to Maarten-Jan Koster and with address at 4A Olive St., Dona Petrona Subdivision, Quezon City1. She may be served notices and other processes of the Honorable Court through her undersigned counsel the Lu Mamañgun and Juco Law Office at Unit 2305 Antel Global Corporate Center, #3 Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Philippines.

2. Respondent LOWELL LEGASPI DAMIAN is of legal age, Filipino, single, and with city address at Cluster 2, 6-I Greenhills Garden Square, 297 Col. Bonny Serrano Ave., Quezon City; and provincial address at Blk. 100 Lot 6 Area D Purok 1, Barangay Sta. Cruz 1, Sapang Palay, San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan where he may be served summons and other Court processes.

To keep them in their company, to support, educate and instruct them by right precept and good example, and to provide for their upbringing in keeping with their means; To give them love and affection, advise and counsel, companionship and understanding; To provide them with moral and spiritual guidance, inculcate in them honesty, integrity, self-discipline, self-reliance, industry and thrift, stimulate their interest in civic affairs, and inspire in them compliance with the duties of citizenship; To enhance, protect, preserve and maintain their physical and mental health at all times;

JURISDICTIONAL FACTS 3. The Parties never entered into marriage.

4. The Parties have three (3) illegitimate children namely MEEKHYLE AVERY DAMIAN (“Meekhyle”)2, LEEHVYNE AVERY DAMIAN (“Leehvyne”)3, both born on 01 May 2003; and LLOYD ANDREW DAMIAN (“Lloyd”)4 born on 28 October 2005. All children are minors at the time of the filing of this Petition.

5. Petitioner married5 Mr. Maarten-Jan Koster, a Dutch national, on 11 September 2015 in Hong Kong.

To furnish them with good and wholesome educational materials, supervise their activities, recreation and association with others, protect them from bad company, and prevent them from acquiring habits detrimental to their health, studies and morals; To represent them in all matters affecting their interests;

NARRATION OF FACTS 6. Sometime in 2001, Petitioner and Respondent met during their sophomore year at San Jose del Monte National Trade School, Bulacan. They became friends and spent many hours in each other’s company. After some time, Respondent decided to court the Petitioner. This was also the time when Respondent was transferred to Norzagaray High School. He got kicked out of school for hitting someone with a stone just because Respondent did not like the way he stared at him.

7. Despite what happened, Petitioner gave Respondent a chance to prove himself.

Eventually, their friendship turned into romance. A year into the relationship, Petitioner got pregnant at the very young age of sixteen (16). Due to this unplanned pregnancy, the Parties were compelled by Respondent’s parents to live together under one roof. Given her young age and lack of resources, Petitioner was left with no choice but to just follow orders and stay with Respondent in the latter’s parent’s house at San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

8. On 01 May 2003, the Parties welcomed their twins Meekhyle Avery Damian and Leehvyne Avery Damian. The children stayed with them at the Respondent’s residence in Bulacan. At that time, the Parties were just seventeen (17) years old and were fresh High School graduates. Having no income, they became completely dependent on their parents who were financially stable enough. All the needs of the children for food, clothing, etc. were provided for by the Parties’ parents.

9. Upon the birth of the twins, not once did the Respondent took the initiative in giving them adequate care and attention. He completely ignored his responsibilities as a father as he continuously acted like a carefree, irresponsible teenager. Respondent had conveniently passed on his duties and obligations as a father to his parents and the Petitioner. He would have his parents watch over the children so that he could go on with his bachelor pursuits. Whenever Petitioner would urge Respondent to help out in simple matters like baby chores, he would do so grudgingly. Instead, he preferred to go out and play basketball, pool, billiards, or hang out with his friends. He would return home at any time he wished.

10. In 2004, the Parties decided to go to College and enroll themselves at Our Lady of Fatima University. However, Respondent just went through the motions as he never exerted genuine efforts to do well in his studies. Skipping classes had become a norm for him as he would rather go to the malls to hang out with his friends. Respondent prioritized leisure over school and never paid much attention to the Petitioner and their children. This became the cause of the Parties’ frequent quarrels.

11. On the other hand, Petitioner was cognizant that getting a good education would translate to a better future for her and her children. Thus, she put in the hard work and dedication in her studies which reflected in her grades. Unfortunately, she had to stop attending school after a semester because her twins needed more of her time, and Respondent could not be counted on for help. Though heartbroken, Petitioner chose the welfare of her children over her personal pursuits. To Petitioner’s mind, her children were of such a tender age that they deserved her full attention.

12. On 28 October 2005, the Parties’ third child Lloyd Andrew Damian (“Lloyd”) was born. Petitioner thought that having another child would make a responsible father out of the Respondent. She was proven wrong as the Parties’ relationship with each other continued to deteriorate. They started to engage in more serious fights which often ended up with Respondent physically hurting the Petitioner. Respondent punched Petitioner’s eye and pulled her hair violently. Petitioner had just turned nineteen (19) years old then and was left to wonder whether staying with a man with no sense of responsibility and with violent tendencies at that was the right thing to do.

13. Despite all her problems with the Respondent, Petitioner did not let it affect her role as a mother. In fact, Petitioner’s love for her children became the overwhelming consideration in everything that she did. With the aim of providing for her children, she decided to work in Japan as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in 2006. However, Petitioner stayed in Japan for only three (3) months because Respondent, who was left behind in the Philippines, kept bugging and arguing with her. Because of this, Petitioner had to eventually go back to the Philippines.

14. While Petitioner was toiling abroad, Respondent remained jobless at home. He never matured and remained indolent. He was completely dependent on Petitioner and his parents for support. He had no plans whatsoever for their future. Despite his lack of direction, Respondent had the gall to ask Petitioner’s hand in marriage. Petitioner wisely declined.

15. In 23 July 2007, the Parties decided to go their separate ways. Due to their evident incompatibility, endless arguments and Respondent’s immaturity, not to mention his violent proclivities, Petitioner was left with no choice but to leave him.

She left Respondent, took the child Lloyd with her, and moved to stay with her mother Rosemarie Diego in Bulacan. Eventually, Petitioner was also able to get Meekhyle from Respondent. Meekhyle had always been a sickly child and thus needed more attention.

16. Petitioner regularly visited her son Leehvyne who remained in Respondent’s parents’ custody at that time. During these visits, Respondent would take advantage of Petitioner’s presence. He would get himself deliberately drunk and compel Petitioner to stay overnight. There was an incident during which Petitioner was sexually harassed

by Respondent owing to the latter’s extreme intoxication. Petitioner was so fearful of him and what he might do next that she resorted to leaving abruptly, giving her no time to even put her slippers on. She rushed and climbed the gate of the house as fast as she could to escape Respondent.

17. In 2008, Petitioner enrolled herself at the Mapua Institute of Technology (now Mapua University). Because of her hard work and dedication, she was rewarded a halfscholarship by the University. In 2012, Petitioner obtained her degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Management. After her graduation, she was able to get the child Leehvyne from the Respondent. The child was ecstatic to be reunited with his mother.

18. To cover the growing needs of her children, Petitioner decided to leave for abroad again. She worked part-time at a restaurant in Hong Kong. There, she met her husband, Mr. Maarten-Jan Koster, a Dutch national who is the CEO of Lidl Hong Kong Ltd., a German Company based in Hong Kong. They got married on 09 September 2015.

19. Despite her marriage to Mr. Koster, Petitioner made sure that her children would remain the priority. Thus, she initiated her children’s application for Hong Kong Identification Cards for them to be able to stay in Hong Kong for longer periods of time. The Hong Kong ID however required the written consent of the biological father.

Thus, in 2015, Petitioner called the Respondent, who by then was also in a relationship with another, to ask for his signature. He unreasonably refuses to give it, saying “Wag mo akong kausapin ngayon, problemado ako!” After some time, Petitioner sent text messages to Respondent which were however not responded to. Worse, Respondent’s girlfriend would take it against the Petitioner whenever she communicated with Respondent even if the purpose was to discuss matters about their children.

20. In 2016, Petitioner’s mother decided to help Petitioner by going to Respondent’s house in Bulacan to ask for Respondent’s signature, but to no avail. Knowing the difficulties that they go through whenever they would travel abroad, the children Leevhyne, Meekhyle, and Lloyd themselves took the document which needed to be signed with them to Respondent so they could personally ask him to sign it. However, they were not even able to take it out of their bag because of their fear of the Respondent.

When asked by Petitioner why, the children replied by saying “Baka ano lang gawin.”

21. Because of Respondent’s refusal to lend his signature, Petitioner was unable secure the Hong Kong IDs for her children. Thus, without these, the children are forced to leave Hong Kong every time their visas are to expire. They have to go through the hassle of going back to the Philippines after 14 days to get another visa and then return to Hong Kong. The children had to endure these hardships all because Respondent refuses to cooperate.

22. On the other hand, the children’s relationship with Mr. Koster is great. Meekhyle, Leehvyne, and Lloyd feel comfortable and at ease with him. It did not take long for them to develop love and respect towards Mr. Koster who acted as their foster father. They saw in him a dad who genuinely cares for them and their mother6.

23. All the comforts and luxury that the children are experiencing now are attributable to Petitioner and Mr. Koster’s loving relationship with each other and the hard work they put it. Petitioner regularly sends remittances to her children to support their daily needs, including their tuition fees and other educational expenses7. At present, Petitioner shoulders the cost of the children’s education without any help from the Respondent.

The children are enrolled at the Far Eastern University (FEU) in Quezon City8. They are also sheltered in a comfortable home located in a gated subdivision at Petitioner’s address as indicated in this Petition.

24. Respondent, on the other hand, is currently working as a cook in a restaurant.

However, instead of giving support to his children, he spends his money on himself and his girlfriend. He never sends even token amounts to his children and had not shown any concern for their welfare. The initiative to visit and see each other would always come from the children themselves, specifically Leehvyne. Never did the Respondent lift a finger or get out of his way to personally see the kids. Respondent had taken a passive role in their lives. He was just a father to them “on paper.”

25. Petitioner aspires for nothing less than to provide her children with a good future with the best opportunities for education and growth. This dream will only materialize upon her declaration as having sole custody and parental authority over the children; hence, the filing of this Petition.

To demand from them respect and obedience; To impose discipline on them as may be required under the circumstances; and To perform such other duties as are imposed by law upon parents and guardians.”

37. Petitioner submits that for the reasons cited above, as bolstered by the prevailing laws and jurisprudence on this matter, sole and exclusive parental authority and custody over the minor children Meekhyle Avery Damian, Leehvyne Avery Damian and Lloyd Andrew Damian should be declared unto Petitioner.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed that the Honorable Court issue an Order declaring sole parental authority and custody over minors MEEKHYLE AVERY DAMIAN, LEEHVYNE AVERY DAMIAN, and LLOYD ANDREW DAMIAN in favor of their mother -- Petitioner Lorie-Lyn L. Koster.

Other measures of relief just and equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for.

Pasig City for Quezon City, 27 November 2018.

For: LU MAMAÑGUN & JUCO LAW OFFICE Counsel for Petitioner 2305 Antel Global Corporate Center, 3 Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City Phone: 919-4643 by: ATTY. RAINIER R. MAMAÑGUN Roll No. 45758 IBP Lifetime No. 03133 PTR No. 3897338 / 18 January 2018 / Pasig City MCLE No. V – 0016462 Issued on 31 March 2016 ATTY. CARLA THERESE L. ARRIOLA Roll No. 68576 IBP Lifetime No. 016408 PTR No. 3897337 / 18 January 2018 / Pasig City Admitted to the Bar on 29 May 2017 Mobile No. 0917-7482490

ATTY. PAMELA KAYE G. BALDON Roll No. 70696 IBP No. 042974 / 28 May 2018 PTR No. 4463246 / 01 August 2018 / Pasig City Admitted to the Bar on 04 June 2018 Mobile No. 0905-2361066

VERIFICATION; CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING; AND SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) MANDALUYONG CITY ) s.s.

I, LORIE-LYN LOPE KOSTER, of legal age, Filipinos with address at 4A Olive St., Dona Petrona Subdivision, Quezon City, after having been sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that: 1. I am the Petitioner in this case; I have caused the preparation of the foregoing Complaint; I have read and understood the contents thereof; and all the allegations contained therein are true and correct of my own personal knowledge.

2. I hereby certify that I have not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issues in the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals; that no such action or proceeding involving the same issues is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any other court, tribunal or agency; and, that should I later on learn of the filing or pendency of any similar action, I hereby undertake to inform this Honorable Court of such fact within five (5) days from such knowledge.

3. I hereby name, constitute and appoint my counsel of record- the Lu Mamangun & Juco Law Office, in filing this Complaint and with full and special power and authority to do and perform the following: (a) to represent me during the Preliminary/Pre-trial Conference, on such dates as may be agreed upon or directed by the Court, to negotiate, conclude, enter into and execute a compromise on matters allowed by law under such terms and conditions as my lawyer may deem just and reasonable; to mark evidence; to agree on the simplification of the issues; to amend the pleadings; to obtain stipulations or admissions of facts and of documents to avoid unnecessary presentation of proof; to limit the number of the witness; to undertake a preliminary reference of the issues to a commissioner; and to do and agree on such other matters as may aid in the prompt disposition of the action, with full power and authority to do and perform all and every act requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises; (b) To represent me during the Court-Annexed Mediation before the Philippine Mediation Center, on such dates as may be agreed upon or directed by the Court, with full and special power and authority to negotiate, conclude, enter into and execute a compromise on matters allowed by law to be compromised under such terms and conditions as my lawyer may deem just and reasonable. (c) To represent me during the Judicial Dispute Resolution before the Honorable Judge, on such dates as may be agreed upon or directed by the Court, with full and special power and authority to negotiate, conclude, enter into and execute a compromise on matters allowed by law to be compromised under such terms and conditions as my lawyer may deem just and reasonable.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature on the date and place mentioned below.

(Sgd.) LORIE-LYN LOPE KOSTER Petitioner SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me on NOV 27, 2018 at MANDALUYONG CITY by the affiants with her identifying documents as follows: Name LORIE-LYN LOPE KOSTER

Date and Place Issued Exp. 03 January 2021, PCG Hongkong

Notary Public

DISCUSSION 26. The Petitioner and Respondent were never married to each other; thus, their three children, Meekhyle Avery, Leehvyne Avery, and Lloyd Andrew are illegitimate despite Respondent’s acknowledgement of his paternity over them. This is in accordance to Article 165 of the Family Code of the Philippines, to wit: Art. 165. Children conceived and born outside a valid marriage are illegitimate, unless otherwise provided in this Code.

27. The Family Code further provides that in the case of illegitimate children, the mother has SOLE parental authority over them. This means that the father has no say on matters that affect the children such as the choice of their residence and their health, travel, and education concerns. On this point, Article 176 of the Family Code of the Philippines as amended by Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9255 provides that: “Article 176. Illegitimate children shall use the surname and shall be under the parental authority of their mother, and shall be entitled to support in conformity with this Code. xxx.” [emphasis supplied] 28. With the mother having sole parental authority over the illegitimate children it necessary follows that custody should also be awarded to her. In the case of Joey D. Briones vs. Maricel P. Miguel et.al, the Supreme Court ruled that: 9 “An illegitimate child is under the sole parental authority of the mother.

In the exercise of that authority, she is entitled to keep the child in her company. The Court will not deprive her of custody, absent any imperative cause showing her unfitness to exercise such authority and care. xxx “David v. Court of Appeal held that the recognition of an illegitimate child by the father could be a ground for ordering the latter to give support to, but not custody of, the child. The law explicitly confers to the mother sole parental authority over an illegitimate child; it follows that only if she defaults can the father assume custody and authority over the minor. Of course, the putative father may adopt his own illegitimate child; in such a case, the child shall be considered a legitimate child of the adoptive parent.

ID Type and Number Passport No. EC6406392

Doc. No. 514 Page No. 105 Book No. 119 Series of 2018

ATTY. JAMES K. ABUGAN NOTARY PUBLIC Until Dec. 31, 2018 IBP No. 021498/ 1-5-2018 Rizal Chapter Roll No. 26890 MCLE No. V-0004484-10-/31/2014 PTR# 3369955 – 01/05/2018 Mandaluyong City TIN # 116-239-956 Tel. 631-40-90

A copy of the Barangay Certificate of Residency is attached hereto as Annex “A.” The Certificate of Live Birth of Meekhyle Avery Damian is attached hereto as Annex “B.” The Certificate of Live Birth of Leehvyne Avery Damian is attached hereto as Annex “C.” 4 The Certificate of Live Birth of Lloyd Andrew Damian is attached hereto as Annex “D.” 5 The PSA-issued Report of Marriage dated 21 September 2015 is attached hereto as Annex “E.” 6 Photographs of Mr. Koster with the children are attached hereto as Annex “F” Series.

7 Copies of Receiving Slips from Western Union and M-Lhuillier Money Transfer are attached hereto as Annex “G” Series.

8 Copies of the Official Receipts of children’s tuition fee payment are attached hereto as Annex “H” Series.

9 G. R. No. 156343, October 18, 2004.

10 Photographs of Petitioner Lorie-Lyn Koster and her children are attached hereto as Annex “I-Series.”

11 A copy of Mr. Koster’s Return of Remuneration and Pensions is hereto as Annex “J.” 12 G.R. No. 118870, March 29, 1996.

13 Art. 220 of the Family Code of the Philippines.

1 2 3

(MStandard - Dec. 7 & 14, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019

‘SEA Games championship 2 years in the making’ THE astonishing accomplishment by Filipino athletes that installed the Philippines as overall champion of the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games was not a miracle achieved overnight.

The feat was at least two years in the making.

“The program began immediately after the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur where we finished miserably at sixth place with only 24 gold medals to show,” Philippine Sports Commission Chairman and Team Philippines Chef de Mission William Ramirez said during the 30th SEAG closing ceremonies parade “The Philippines didn’t improve on finishing sixth in Singapore, and worse, there were four more golds in those 2015 Games,” added Ramirez.

Ramirez earned a significant niche in Philippine sports—and even in the SEA Games’ history following the success of the 2005 and 2019 SEA Games which were both hosted by the country. He was chef de mission in both editions.

“But regardless of whether I am chef de mission or not, my mandate as PSC chairman is to make sure that our athletes are well taken cared of—from their nutrition to billeting to the most important ingredient of all—training, preparation and foreign exposure,” he said.

The PSC, Ramirez said, didn’t hesitate to pour all its resources to the athletes.

In the two years ahead of the country’s hosting of the 30th SEA Games, the PSC spent over P2.1 billion for the preparation and foreign exposure— training and competition—of almost 1,400 members of the national pool of each of the 56 national sports associations that were on the Games’ program.

The funding translated to P1.4 million spent on each and every athlete who commandeered the SEA Games campaign that resulted to those 385 medals won—149 gold, 117 silver and 119 bronze medals.

Ex-NBA chief Stern undergoes brain surgery LOS ANGELES—Former NBA commissioner David Stern underwent emergency surgery on Thursday after suffering a brain hemorrhage, the NBA announced.

“NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage earlier today for which he underwent emergency surgery. Our thoughts and prayers are with David and his family,” the league said in a news release.

ESPN reported that the 77-yearold Stern collapsed at a New York restaurant and was rushed to a hospital where doctors performed the operation.

The NBA did not release any details on his condition.

Stern served as commissioner from 2006 to 2014 before he was replaced

by Adam Silver. Before that he was deputy commissioner under Russ Granik from 1990 to 2006.

During Stern’s 30 years as commissioner, the league added seven new franchises, relocated a half-dozen others and dramatically increased revenues.

The average player salary went from $250,000 in 1984 to $5 million.

Well wishes came from fans and people around the league such as former Los Angeles Laker Magic Johnson. AFP

Performers from Vietnam participate during the closing ceremony of the SEA Games at the athletics stadium in Clark, north of Manila. AFP

Tolentino to push for kickboxing, arnis, OCR in Vietnam SEA Games P

HILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino yesterday said that he is pushing for the inclusion of arnis, kickboxing and obstacle course racing in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

“If I had to be there (Vietnam) most of the time to plead our case, then I will do it,” said Tolentino.

The three sports disciplines delivered a combined 23 golds in the SEA Games for the Philippines, with arnis being the most productive with a haul of 14 golds, 4 silvers and 2 bronze medals.

OCR had a 6-3-1 gold-silver-bronze harvest, while kickboxing delivered 3-2-1. Dancesports, which netted 10 of the 12 golds at stake, will also be considered.

“Vietnam won 2 golds in dancesport, so posibleng maisama ‘yan. Ipupush din natin ‘yan,” said Tolentino, who is credited for the 56-sport Philippine SEA Games.

But he had to literally fight for the stacked program that was met with opposition some 18 months ago when the hosting of the biennial games was still on the drawing board.

“I knew that the best way to emerge overall champion is to use this formula. And now, we all know that it worked,” he said.

The process was tedious and Tolentino had to go one-on-one with national sports association officials in order for him to determine what exactly are the events that would deliver the medals.

“It was a long and meticulous process, talking with NSA presidents and secretary generals, asking for their honest impressions on which events must be included and which shouldn’t,” he said. “It’s about deleting those events where Filipino athletes won’t potentially win the golds.”

In the SEA Games, a host country Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has the privilege to determine which sports—and events—would be on the The current POC goes down in competition program—although these SEA Games and Philippine sports have to secure the SEA Games Federa- story as the most successful followtion approval.

Turn to A7

Union Bell completes sweep; Exponential wins UNION Bell completed a sweep of the three-leg 2019 Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) Juvenile Colts Stakes Race at the San Lazaro Leisure Park recently and declared its readiness to compete against the big guns in the Triple Crown Series next year.

Cementing its status as one fastestrising young horses on the local racing scene, Union Bell made its move in the final 400 meters against a fading Lucky Savings and bolted to another emphatic victory in the 1,500-meter race, achieved in 1:34.6 with quartertimes of 18, 24, 25 and 27.

Union Bell (sire Union Rags, USA; dam Tocqueville, ARG), earned P1,200,000 for the Bell Racing Stable of owner Elmer de Leon from the Philracom’s total guaranteed purse of P2,000,000.

Lucky Savings (jockey Kevin Abobo, owner Antonio Coyco) settled for the runner-up purse of P450,000, while third placer Four Strong Wind (PM Cabalejo, Alfredo Santos) pocketed P250,000.

“Bale sunod lang, hinintay ko mag-ultimo kuarto, kasi kilala ko naman ‘yung kalaban ko na nauuna. Hinintay ko lang na may dumikit sa akin. Pagdating ng kuarto, nilapitan ko na, ‘yung rekta okay na,” said jockey Jonathan B. Hernandez.

“Masyado magaling ang kabayo ko.

Ready na sa Triple Crown ito, mas matalas ito next year,” said Hernandez, who two races later, was again at the winners’ podium after steering Exponential in the Philracom Juvenile Fillies Stakes Race 3rd leg.

Owned by Raymund Puyat, Exponential (sire Algorithm, US; dam Rap,

By Jeric Lopez

Exponential storms to a five-length win in the Juvenile Fillies Stakes Race 3rd leg.

US) pulled off a five-length in the fi llies’ category with a time of 1:36.6 (quartertimes of 18, 24, 26, 28 for the top purse of P1.2 million from the total pot of P2 million.

“Suwerte lang. Ang instruction sa akin, mauna ang coupled entry (Redhead Dancer). Bale mga tersera, kuatro puwesto lang. Paglampas ng tres octavo, kapag bandera pa ‘yung kakampi ko, rekta na lang kami maglaban. Sakto naman na ang layo ko, pangatlo sa huli.

Bale safe ground, safe ground ako.

Ultimo kuatro medyo traffic pa, pero noong nakalihis ako, ang tulin na ng

kabayo ko sa rekta,” said Hernandez.

Carmela’s Fury (jockey JB Guce, owner Jose Antonio Zialcita ) and After Party (MM Gonzales, SC Stockfarm) earned P450,000 and P250,000 as runner-up and third placer, respectively.

December proves to be the busiest horseracing month for big races with the Philracom’s holding of the Grand Sprint Championship on the 15th, the Chairman’s Cup and the 3rd leg of the 3YO Imported/Local Challenge Series on the 29th and the Juvenile Championship on the 31st.

Women’s cage league in Aquino’s mind

By Lito Cinco

The women’s cage team is shown with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio and coach Patrick Aquino.

Angelica Villanueva

Batang Pier, Kings begin semis duel

PAT Aquino, head coach of the Gilas women’s basketball team, couldn’t hide his emotions when he showed up at the media interview together with his two key players, Jack Animam and Afril Bernardino after the Filipina cagebelles captured the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal in the 30th South East Asian Games.

Playing before the biggest crowd ever in the team’s history, the cagebelles responded with a masterful 91-71 victory over Thailand.

“When we had a breakout in the third quarter, I thought it was ours already. The team was playing as a team at both ends of the court, everyone was helping one another all throughout,” said Aquino.

Named by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipi-

nas as the project director for women’s basketball tasked to grow the sport, Aquino is already looking to the future of women’s basketball, saying FIBA is the next stop for the team.

“Sana tuluy tuloy na ito at mabigyan na talaga ng pansin ang women’s basketball dito, gapang kami dito since 2015. Mabuti nakabiyahe kami a few months ago sa Jones Cup, malaking tulong ‘yun. Pero ang problema is sustaining the gains we made in the SEA Games,” added Aquino .

Foremost in his mind is to be able to put up a women’s basketball league. He believes that with the women’s gold-medal finish, sponsors will come in and help.

“We really need to establish our own league, this is the way to sustain and grow the sport as the girls can look forward to a basketball-related work after college,” said Aquino.

WITH the Southeast Asian Games already concluded, the semifinal round of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association kicks off as the hostilities reach a new level.

Barangay Ginebra and NorthPort begin their hotly anticipated best-offive semis tussle with Game 1 scheduled at 6:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

Still fresh from copping the gold medal for the Philippines in the 30th SEA Games, Tim Cone and his Ginebra wards LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter are now looking to lead the Gin Kings once again.

Cone acknowledges the threat that the Batang Pier presents.

“We got a significant time of rest as a team since our last game. We have to make sure we come out prepared and sharp,” said Cone. “NorthPort is no joke. We all saw what it did in the quarterfinals. It should be a tough battle.”

Cone’s core will go up against NorthPort’s formidable big three of Michael Qualls, Christian Standhardinger and Sean Anthony, who have shown that they can carry the fight for the Batang Pier.

The Gin Kings have a more comfortable route to the semis while, on the contrary, the Batang Pier dug deep and did it the hard way.

Taking advantage of its twice-tobeat incentive as the fourth seed in the quarterfinals, Ginebra slammed San Miguel right away, 100-97, to advance and also shatter the Beermen’s hopes for a coveted grand-slam.

On the other hand, NorthPort showed its grit by winning four knockout games in a row to make this far, despite being the lowest seeded team in the playoffs.

The Batang Pier won their last two games in the elimination round to crack the quarters before overcoming a twice-to-win disadvantage in the previous round by beating NLEX twice to take the last semis spot.

The last ticket to the semis was hard-earned as NorthPort endured a grueling triple-overtime encounter with the Road Warriors to take a classic 126-123 escape win in the deciding game of the last quarterfinals pairing.

IN BRIEF Dito Telecom to lead Uy’s telecom business

ISM Communications Corp. is being groomed as the listed telecommunication company of businessman Dennis Uy. ISM president Dennis Uy during the annual stockholders’ meeting said ISM, to be renamed Dito CME Holdings Inc., would become the Udenna Group’s corporate vehicle owning a 60-percent equity in DITO Telecommunity, the country’s third telecommunications player.

Uy said Dito CME Holdings would also invest in other related businesses with synergies with Udenna Corp., the unlisted holding company of Uy. “Dito CME will be focused on investments in telecom venture. The asset planned to be injected by Udenna will be its investment in telco business. We think think this will present better value to current and prospective ISM shareholders,” Uy said.

Uy expects the asset injection to be completed by mid-2020, subject to regulatory approvals.

The corporate structure of ISM after the asset injection was also finalized.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

DOE defends circular on net-metering plan

THE Department of Energy on Friday defended its draft circular on net-metering but vowed to study the concerns raised by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

ERC called the attention of DOE early this week regarding the possible legal impediments and cost implications to its draft circular on net-metering.

“The Net Metering Program (NMP) is an important empowerment option for our consumers which Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi seeks to expand. Hence, the comments of the ERC on the DOE’s proposed Net Metering Policy are well-taken and highly regarded,” the DOE said.

Under the net-metering program, an ordinary electricity consumer can become a “prosumer” that can generate electricity for its own consumption while any excess generation can be sold to the distribution grid.

ERC wrote a letter to DOE expressing its views on the draft department circular entitled, “Policies to Enhance the NetMetering Program for Renewable Energy Systems and Other Mechanisms to Ensure Energy Security.”

ERC said the net-metering rules should be made applicable to all types of renewable energy resource and not just focused on a certain type of technology or resource. Alena Mae S. Flores

B1

By Darwin G. Amojelar

VILLAR GROUP PARTNER. The Villar Group teams up with Multisys Technologies Corp., a leading software solutions company, to deliver game-changing solutions that will benefit its consumers. Sealing the partnership are (from left) Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. president and chief executive officer Paolo Villar, Vista Land chairman Manuel Villar Jr. and MultiSys president and CEO Dave Almirol Jr.

PH, ADB sign $623.3m worth of loan packages T

By Julito G. Rada

HE Philippines and the Asian Development Bank on Friday signed three loan agreements worth a combined $623.3 million for programs that aim to enhance the Duterte administration’s capability to implement its “Build, Build, Build” projects, gear up the country’s young workforce for quality jobs, and promote free and fair competition in business.

The three loan packages are the $400-million Facilitating Youth Schoolto-Work Transition Program, Subprogram 2; $23.3-million Capacity Building to Foster Competition Project; and the $200-million additional financing for the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility.

Signing the agreements on Friday were Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and ADB vice presi-

PEZA: Canadian, US firms eyeing investments here

dent Ahmed Saeed.

The three loan agreements are part of the $10.3 billion in financing support that the ADB committed to provide the Philippines over the medium term.

The ADB has proposed loan financing of $2.5 billion this year and $7.8 billion over the 2020-2021 period.

From 2009 to 2019, the ADB’s loan financing to the Philippines amounted to $7.2 billion.

Saeed said the $2.5 billion of the new loan assistance to the Philippines in 2019 “is our highest lending program ever and reflects ADB’s strong commitment to scaling up our support to the Philippines and its development agenda.”

Dominguez said substantial increase in ADB’s loan financing for the Philippines underscored the multilateral institution’s strong support for the Duterte administration’s comprehensive development strategy, anchored on aggressive state spending on infrastructure and human capital, disaster preparedness, tourism, health care and agriculture.

“Let me take this occasion again to thank the ADB for its confidence in our government’s capacity to bring forth bold reforms and undertake ambitious development projects. We will do our utmost not to disappoint your best expectations,” Dominguez said after the signing of the loan agreements.

Saeed expressed hope that the three

projects formalized through the signing of the loan accords “will help bring an even closer ADB–Philippines partnership in the years to come.”

Dominguez assured the ADB that the funding support it has provided the Philippines “will be used most efficiently to help realize the Duterte administration’s comprehensive development strategy.”

The Philippines, he said, was at a crucial turning point where it had sustained its high growth, significantly reduced its poverty and unemployment rates, and expected to reach upper-middle income country status way ahead of schedule next year.

“We have decisively broken out of the former boom-and-bust cycle that inhibited our projects in the past. We are consolidating for rapid and inclusive growth well into the foreseeable future,” said Dominguez.

The additional financing for the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility will enable the Philippine government to undertake engineering and feasibility studies for major “Build, Build, Build projects,” such as the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, Samal Island-Davao City Connector Bridge, Mindanao Railway Project, Metro Manila Subway, Subic-Clark Railway, North-South Commuter Railway System and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)Line 4 from Ortigas in Metro Manila to Taytay, Rizal.

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority has never failed to actively invite and attract foreign direct investors to the country and promote the benefits of investing in the Philippines, PEZA director general Charito Plaza.

Fresh from a recent investments trip to Canada, PEZA visited the facilities of potential investors to the Philippines, such as EnEco, the Silver Valley Farms and Tetratech Holdings.

These companies, whose pioneering technologies or products are now being marketed worldwide, have decided to set up their export-oriented facilities in the PEZA ecozones by early next year and make the Philippines their regional hub.

EnEco, through a partnership with ACS based in Bellingham, Washington, will invest $80 million for the Thermal Oxidation Process System, or TOPS gasifier, with acid evaporator, a waste treatment/disposal facility to be established in Mactan, Cavite and Batangas ecozones.

Meanwhile, SVF will engage in cacao production for export. It is seeking a 50-hectare ecozone with a project cost of $5 million per site, not including the ecozone developer investment.

The Canadian agro-industrial firm plans to put up three cacao production sites in the country and explored the viability of growing blueberries in Baguio and Bukidnon.

Plaza also noted that Vancouver Airport Authority and Bombardier Aviation had “expressed openness to manufacturing their automation equipment and supplying their equipment to the Philippines and other countries in Asia.”

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019

ICTSI starts operations of Rio de Janeiro port terminal

PCC clears Hitachi’s Mikuni Toyo purchase

THE Philippine Competition Commission approved the 100-percent acquisition of ATM module assembler Hitachi Terminals Mechatronics Philippines Corp. by circuit board-maker Mikuni Toyo Co. Ltd. (Mikuni Toyo), saying the transaction will not likely result in substantial lessening of competition in the Philippine market.

The commission made the decision on December 10, 2019.

Both companies are producing different electronic products used for varying applications. The PCC said there was no horizontal overlaps between the products of Mikuni Toyo and Hitachi in the Philippines.

With no direct relation of products between the firms, no vertical overlaps also exist as neither products of the two are considered as inputs for the other.

Moreover, the parties operate only as manufacturers or assemblers of their respective products, all of which are exported to their foreign parent entities and third parties outside of the Philippines.

Othel V . Campos

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

MERALCO K-LIGTAS AWARDS. Manila Electric Co. for the fourth year in a row holds its annual recognition of organizations that have instituted power safety protocols as a part of their daily processes. The country’s first and only industry awards program for electrical safety best practices, the Meralco Kuryenteng Ligtas (K-Ligtas) Awards is an advocacy program of Meralco through its learning and development arm, the Meralco Power Academy. The 2019 K-Ligtas awardees display their K-Ligtas trophies as they are joined by the K-Ligtas Awards Committee composed of executives from Meralco, Meralco Power Academy and their program partners led by the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers.

Makati subway to connect with monorail project of Andrew Tan

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE proposed Makati subway system of businessman Antonio Tiu will be connected to the planned Sky Train of Infracorp Development Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan. Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange unit Makati City Subway Inc. accepted Friday the term sheet from Megaworld Corp. on the creation of a joint venture company that would develop a common station for the Makati subway system and the proposed Sky Train.

The common station of the two train systems will have access and connection to the MRT Guadalupe Station and the Pasig River ferry system.

“Under the term sheet, MCSI and Megaworld have 60 days to finalize de-

finitive agreements covering the proposed joint venture, including, but not limited to, the Joint Venture Agreement and Articles of Incorporation. During the same period, MCSI will not enter into any agreement or any transaction pertaining to the land that will be used as the common station,” said Philippine Infradev.

No other details were provided, including the cost of building the common station and the timetable for the completion of the project.

The P3-billion Skytrain monorail project, which will reduce travel time from Fort Bonifacio to MRT Guadalupe Makati and vice versa to just five minutes, is expected to benefit around 60,000 to 100,000 passengers daily.

The two-kilometer monorail project is scheduled for completion by 2021.

The $3.7-billion Makati intra-city

subway project, meanwhile, is an 11-kilometer with up to 10 stations that wil link establishments across the city’s business district.

Once completed, the subway system is expected to accommodate up to 700,000 passengers per day.

Meanwhile, Philippine Infradev reported that MCSI executed an agreement with China Construction First Group Corporation Limited (CCFG) on the construction of the Makati subway project.

CCFG under the agreement will be responsible for the construction, including materials, manpower, equipment and other requirements to complete the project.

The construction period covers 42 months with a grace period of six months.

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. said Friday it assumed the operations and development of a container terminal in Rio de Janeiro City in Brazil after securing regulatory approvals.

The port terminal owned by tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. said “all conditions precedent and required regulatory approvals have been obtained” for the transfer of Terminal de Contêineres 1 in Rio de Janeiro to ICTSI. The company said the facilities were transferred to ICTSI management on December 12, 2019.

ICTSI in July signed a share purchase agreement with Boreal Empreendimentos e Participações S.A. to acquire 100 percent of the shares of Libra Terminal Rio S.A., which holds the concession rights to operate, manage and develop the container terminal Terminal de Contêineres 1 in Rio de Janeiro.

Boreal is a Brazilian wholly-owned subsidiary of privately-owned Libra Group (Brazil), which is under judicial reorganization.

ICTSI acquired 85,115,479 secondary shares and about 1,011,181 of new shares at BRL for P9.1 billion.

The concession of Terminal de Contêineres 1 (T1Rio) started in 1998 and was extended in 2011 until 2048.

T1Rio had a throughput of 135,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2018. It has a capacity of more than 530,000 TEUs which could be expanded further.

T1Rio has state-of-the-art container terminal assets, including five ship-toshore gantry cranes and an extensive range of yard handling equipment of more than 16 rubber-tired-gantry cranes.

It has a total land area of 18.8 hectares and 715 meters of quay wall, with a design water depth of up to 16 meters. It has capability to receive global shipping lines’ largest container vessels.

ICTSI in June won a 25-year contract to develop, operate and maintain the multi-purpose terminal of the Port of Kribi in Cameroon.

PH economy needs further stimuli—ING

ING Bank Manila said fiscal and monetary stimuli are needed to make the Philippine economy reach the low end of the growth target range of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent next year.

“A double-headed dose of stimulus (fiscal and monetary) could easily be the antidote to sluggish growth to catapult GDP to 6.5 percent in 2020 even in the face of a projected global economic slowdown,” ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said in a report Friday.

Mapa’s comment came a day after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas at its last meeting for the year kept its benchmark interest rates steady at 4 percent amid the benign inflation environment.

“The slowdown in 2019 growth has been pinned on the government budget delay and global headwinds stemming from the US-China trade war. However, we also note a substantial pullback in overall investment activity in 2019, with second quarter and third quarter capital formation contracting by 8.5 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively,” he said.

He said with public construction negative in the first half of 2019 (owing to the budget delay), overall construction activity slowed to only a single-digit growth in first quarter and second quarter (6.4 percent and 2.8 percent).

“With BSP easing by 75 bps in 2019 and possibly more on the way, we expect capital formation and investment activity to get a shot in the arm to help solidify the Philippine growth story,” Mapa said.

On Thursday, the Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, kept the benchmark interest rate at 4 percent, taking into account the continuing benign inflation environment.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno, who is also the board chairman, said in a briefing the interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were kept unchanged at 3.5 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively. Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rally; Metro Pacific, DMCI up

T

HE stock market jumped Friday on bargain hunting and on reports China and the US had reached a trade agreement.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 136.56 points, or 1.8 percent, to 7,877.63 on a value turnover of nearly P7.5 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 123 to 61, with 55 issues unchanged.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. advanced 11.9 percent to P3.01 while DMCI Holdings Inc. climbed 9.9 percent to P5.55 as investors took the opportunity to buy back the stocks after suffering a heavy beating in the past few days.

Major property developer Ayala Land Inc. rose 4.2 percent to P46.90, while International Container Terminal Services

Inc., the biggest port operator, rallied 3.8 percent to P126.

Christmas came early to the rest of the Asian markets Friday as equities and the pound surged on reports exit polls predicted a landslide election win for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that will allow him to push through Brexit.

Tokyo soared 2.6 percent, Hong Kong piled on more than two percent, Shanghai clocked up 1.8 percent, Seoul surged 1.5 percent and Sydney rose 0.5 percent.

There were also big gains in Mumbai, Singapore, Taipei and Jakarta.

The soothing of tensions and removal of some uncertainty helped higheryielding, riskier currencies rally.

The Chinese yuan jumped one percent against the dollar, while the South Korean won and South African rand were both 1.5 percent higher.

Australia’s dollar, the Indonesian ru-

piah, Mexican peso and Russian ruble also saw big advances as investors grew in confidence.

Investors flocked back into stocks around the world on news that Donald Trump had signed off on a long-awaited pact between the world’s economic superpowers that will see the cancellation of fresh US tariffs due at the weekend and the rolling back of previous measures.

After months of high-level talks, negotiators presented the president with a deal that will see China ramp up its purchases of agricultural goods, Bloomberg News reported.

The mood was already buoyant after Trump said an agreement was close on the first part of a wider pact.

“Getting VERY close to a BIG DEAL with China. They want it, and so do we!” Trump tweeted earlier in the day, which helped fuel a rally on Wall Street

that saw the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit new records.

While the pact has yet to be finalized, the news will come as a massive relief to investors after weeks of toing and froing, with the two sides offering sometimes positive, sometimes downbeat comments on the talks’ progress.

Trade tensions between the world’s biggest economies have been a huge drag on global growth, with most countries being sucked into the stand-off, sending some into or close to recession.

“Does it mean we get a comprehensive deal in 2020? Hard to say, but it this has created the necessary Christmas cheer for a decent Santa Rally,” said Neil Wilson at Markets.com.

The trade headlines came just as a closely watched exit poll forecast Johnson’s ruling Conservative party would win a huge 86-seat majority in a crucial general election. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review Friday, deceMBer 13, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

FINANCIALS 53.9 1,000 91 1,450,450 1.76 139,000 160.1 2,492,770 0.94 1,000 25 14,500 18.2 3,500 12.96 222,400 4.07 2,000 839.5 240 67.5 2,346,710 0.83 55,000 20.5 5,600 36.2 171,600 173 820 58.45 2,340 24.15 6,400 200 421,270 1,805 50 58.25 10,560 1.09 8,000

53,820.50 130,951,910 250,790 397,088,147 940 362,610 63,700 2,876,328 8,140 196,680 157,172,906.50 43,150 114,800 6,317,155 141,948 134,631 154,760 84,032,943 90,250 612,820 8,720

-3,229.50 5,314,279 -1,760 -19,878,313 -940 214,818 66,580 -13,181,789 0 -1,793,125 27,768 -7,245 7,953,954 -610,495 -

33.85 2.21 13.42 0.54 1.23 2.8 0.23 88.35 2.1 15.12 170 4.17 18.52 28.1 69 72.3 2.01 5.16 8.61 14.52 9.9 7.18 23.65 70.1 1.09 39.15 1.93 13.56 7.7 1.24 216.2 48 4.73 3.48 7.15 10.02 11.3 16.56 315 0.155 5.05 1.89 3.89 4.16 9.75 11.02 33.4 5 5.34 2.04 0.86 9.9 87.4 7.71 0.116 144 2.56 1.13 15.54 0.86

INDUSTRIAL 34.45 836,700 2.32 2,945,000 13.6 214,900 0.56 147,000 1.25 83,000 2.85 2,646,000 0.231 1,520,000 99.95 30 2.13 1,731,000 15.24 12,933,200 170 410 4.22 231,000 19 3,400 28.1 200 69 1,660 72.4 1,470 2.06 5,000 5.16 347,500 8.8 3,560,000 14.56 22,800 9.9 370,400 7.2 192,400 25.45 2,770,500 70.2 47,940 1.15 23,343,000 40.7 4,000 2.02 14,276,000 13.9 311,100 7.73 904,600 1.37 16,000 221.2 875,710 48 100 4.73 2,000 3.48 1,000 7.15 48,000 10.02 11,537,900 11.9 306,300 16.88 723,100 318 207,240 0.155 20,000 5.05 17,800 1.9 32,354,000 3.89 8,000 4.18 3,504,000 9.75 44,200 11.5 102,800 33.5 623,700 5 42,100 5.35 45,500 2.12 4,532,000 0.86 54,000 9.98 2,313,200 89 71,290 7.72 99,000 0.116 300,000 145 3,897,040 2.56 9,000 1.13 870,000 11,200 15.8 0.89 11,777,000

28,791,970 6,775,400 2,893,180 80,560 102,390 7,589,400 351,170 2,882.50 3,676,880 197,102,992 69,700 979,350 64,074 5,620 117,118 113,482.50 10,250 1,809,050 31,281,720 336,734 3,687,544 1,385,180 69,102,845 3,373,027.5(1, 26,233,820 160,335 28,436,930 ( 4,321,952 6,991,542 20,710 193,094,352 4,800 9,460 3,480 344,901 120,521,878 3,607,590 12,197,002 65,897,720 3,100 90,522 61,371,010 31,160 14,711,570 442,476 1,161,520 20,890,540 210,543 243,410 9,469,700 47,120 23,010,316 6,311,808.50 771,649 34,800 564,216,700 23,280 986,930 176,590 10,321,650

3,658,325 5,020 133,234 -1,230 852,770 -2,320 -883.5 -2,272,210 -173,686 132,060.00 -1,854 -724 -256,880 -7,291,580 -29,114 -1,723,062 -600,480 10,564,740 705,566.4999) -237,450 -43,905 156,889.9997) -2,515,900 5,160,185 102,460,374 14,300 -83,216,818 3,380,630 -5,083,822 18,209,828 -21,375,540 4,374,420 -20,160 11,891,125 -240,205 -852,472 -1,822,772.50 -20,448 -8,272,988 -2,560 144,940.00 -176,590 13,050

0.74 50.95 11.1 0.68 6.72 11.5 0.93 0.96 779 3.05 1,275 6.7 5.23 13 883 81.5 5 0.485 3.76 11.86 0.56 2.76 4.4 1.3 151.8 1,057 1.23 197 0.213 0.2

HOLDING FIRMS 0.75 2,358,000 52.4 2,023,480 11.16 7,538,000 0.71 155,000 6.72 300 11.5 1,100 0.95 739,000 0.97 363,000 782 633,880 3.08 656,000 1,275 15 6.7 3,732,500 5.55 33,278,800 13.26 56,100 895 114,250 81.9 1,934,970 5 15,000 0.5 49,000 3.78 57,000 11.9 1,722,000 0.57 11,000 3.01 234,896,000 5.05 48,000 1.37 94,000 153 262,860 1,069 724,810 1.25 7,000 202 19,980 0.213 550,000 0.209 1,150,000

1,760,020 104,987,121 84,451,378 107,570 2,016 12,700 699,870 349,980 498,810,950 2,012,720 19,375 25,032,225 184,042,297 741,286 102,246,805 159,051,169.50 75,000 23,810 215,860 20,542,878 6,170 711,864,880 235,670 122,530 40,110,440 773,765,065 8,650 4,003,684 117,860 233,880

760 16,214,290.50 -18,464,128 -680 118,620 -150,596,300 -571,320 -6,375 -3,918,486 976,367 11,790,720 12,839,874.50 40,000 -113,670 -12,137,282 -195,948,030 -17,552,712 525,819,090 20,000

14.8 0.7 1.38 0.83 45 1.99 4.7 6.34 0.54 0.76 0.83 0.18 0.4 10.16 18.98 0.415 1.5 1.16 4.3 0.202 1.26 2.01

PROPERTY 14.8 316,700 0.73 595,000 1.45 17,000 0.85 1,161,000 46.9 8,712,500 2.01 247,000 4.7 206,000 6.34 400 0.54 1,910,000 0.76 5,000 0.84 2,000 0.19 190,000 0.4 530,000 10.2 28,900 19.46 190,700 0.42 70,000 1.52 4,975,000 1.16 733,000 4.3 62,501,000 0.219 37,890,000 1.27 853,000 105,000 2.02

4,697,274 427,070 24,560 971,780 403,386,920 494,540 970,770 2,536 1,037,850 3,820 1,670 34,850 212,000 294,464 3,675,642 29,150 7,508,940 856,140 269,722,260 8,115,590 1,088,230 211,120

-192,480 -710 -1,380 -840 200,758,435 -170,140 32,900 -11,340 -840 -1,800 -189,720 -300,352 -439,480 -143,040,140 -11,650 12,800 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG MANULIFE METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

53.75 90.5 1.95 157.7 0.94 25 18.2 13.04 4.07 810 67.7 0.79 20.5 37 174 58.45 24.1 200 1,805 58.25 1.09

53.9 91 1.95 161.8 0.94 25.05 18.2 13.04 4.07 839.5 67.7 0.83 20.5 37.7 174 58.45 24.2 200 1,805 58.25 1.09

53.75 89.1 1.76 157.1 0.94 25 18.2 12.8 4.07 810 66.5 0.78 20.5 36.1 173 57.1 24.1 196.3 1,805 57.8 1.09

ABOITIZ POWER AC ENERGY AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS AXELUM BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA GREENERGY HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHINMA PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

34.15 2.26 13.54 0.56 1.23 2.93 0.235 99.95 2.12 15.38 170 4.2 19 28.1 77.5 81 2.01 5.16 8.61 14.54 10.1 7.2 24.5 71.5 1.1 40.5 1.95 13.56 7.73 1.24 217 48 4.73 3.48 7.15 11.06 11.3 16.8 317 0.155 5.12 1.89 3.9 4.34 10 11.1 33.5 5.01 5.35 2.15 0.9 9.9 88.45 7.84 0.116 145 2.59 1.13 15.56 0.89

34.65 2.37 13.74 0.56 1.25 2.95 0.235 99.95 2.15 15.38 170 4.35 19 28.1 77.5 81 2.06 5.23 8.88 14.8 10.1 7.2 25.45 71.5 1.16 40.7 2.03 13.9 7.8 1.37 223.2 48 4.73 3.48 7.31 11.06 11.96 16.88 322.2 0.155 5.12 1.91 3.9 4.34 10.08 11.5 33.55 5.16 5.35 2.18 0.9 9.98 89 7.85 0.116 145.7 2.59 1.15 15.8 0.9

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP AYALA LAND LOG BHI HLDG COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.75 51.15 11.16 0.71 6.72 11.58 0.95 0.96 790 3.05 1,300 6.99 5.23 13 895 82.05 5 0.485 3.8 12 0.56 2.82 4.4 1.37 152 1,070 1.23 200 0.215 0.2

0.76 52.45 11.26 0.71 6.72 11.6 0.95 0.97 810 3.09 1,300 6.99 5.79 13.26 898 83 5 0.5 3.8 12.04 0.57 3.14 5.1 1.37 153.8 1,071 1.25 205 0.215 0.21

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL INFRADEV PRIMEX CORP

14.84 0.7 1.38 0.84 45.8 2 4.74 6.34 0.55 0.77 0.83 0.18 0.4 10.2 19 0.415 1.5 1.17 4.3 0.202 1.3 2.02

14.86 0.73 1.45 0.85 47 2.02 4.74 6.34 0.55 0.77 0.84 0.19 0.4 10.2 19.48 0.42 1.52 1.2 4.35 0.221 1.31 2.02

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

26.65 2.11 3.25 41.5 2.4 1.11 7.47 5.49

26.95 2.15 3.25 41.95 2.46 1.13 7.49 5.5

26.5 2.1 3.15 41.3 2.36 1.1 7.1 5.3

26.8 2.14 3.24 41.8 2.46 1.12 7.1 5.48

2,142,200 122,000 27,000 7,638,500 2,242,000 694,000 3,938,900 12,800

57,342,055 257,140 85,720 318,921,260 5,385,590 777,180 28,971,353 69,901

3,541,915 27,520 44,284,675 -7,140 -19,704,557 -

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL ALLHOME APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PH RESORTS GRP PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

9.62 16.5 1.43 11.46 0.43 0.042 18 4.12 10.98 89.95 6.91 5.1 5.16 1.96 8.36 890.5 1,978 5.27 417.8 1.21 122.9 8 5.5 0.099 3.44 2.69 0.89 17.1 0.39 3.39 2.09 1.05 2.57 2.5 7.5 5.75 149.9 2.56 1,003 0.58 0.43 39.35 74.9 8.75 2.52 0.65 0.28 0.6 18.18

9.98 16.9 1.52 11.5 0.44 0.042 18.5 4.17 11.16 92.4 7.08 5.11 5.25 1.96 8.37 890.5 1,980 5.27 425 1.21 126.6 8.19 6 0.1 3.47 2.71 0.89 17.2 0.39 3.4 2.14 1.1 2.65 2.5 8 5.75 150 2.6 1,015 0.6 0.44 40.5 74.95 9.09 2.52 0.67 0.29 0.63 18.5

9.62 16.4 1.43 11.46 0.43 0.042 18 4.03 10.96 89.95 6.91 4.88 5.16 1.96 8.3 890.5 1,940 5.2 417.8 1.16 120 8 5.5 0.099 3.27 2.69 0.89 17.02 0.385 3.39 2.09 0.99 2.54 2.5 7.5 5.45 149.9 2.55 999 0.57 0.43 39.25 73.65 8.75 2.49 0.64 0.28 0.6 17.9

SERVICES 9.7 16.5 1.52 11.48 0.44 0.042 18.5 4.14 11 92.4 7.08 5.03 5.25 1.96 8.36 890.5 1,978 5.25 425 1.18 126 8.19 6 0.1 3.35 2.71 0.89 17.2 0.385 3.39 2.11 0.99 2.62 2.5 8 5.45 150 2.56 1,001 0.58 0.44 40.5 74.9 9.09 2.5 0.65 0.28 0.62 18.5

7,400 216,800 26,000 1,894,500 190,000 5,600,000 203,500 2,392,000 2,080,500 78,830 1,700 1,292,800 3,000 9,000 10,400 30 38,855 51,200 30 379,000 2,882,280 200 6,400 350,000 2,906,000 30,000 85,000 219,800 60,000 35,000 545,000 34,000 1,248,000 20,000 6,600 1,100 350 425,000 89,210 953,000 1,310,000 1,222,300 93,370 7,600 2,593,000 912,000 1,330,000 978,000 2,663,300

72,080 3,634,640 39,010 21,747,622 83,100 235,200 3,713,000 9,765,240 22,939,654 7,164,534 11,764 6,439,936 15,570 17,640 86,924 26,715 76,735,485 268,179 12,678 447,360 359,198,675 1,619 38,020 34,760 9,817,130 80,950 75,650 3,757,472 23,300 118,660 1,151,040 34,350 3,253,800 50,000 49,550 6,025 52,499 1,088,570 89,395,620 552,230 571,550 48,754,480 6,990,158.50 68,478 6,484,250 597,140 373,150 595,530 48,590,738

-969.9999 -1,430 -500 -39,400 -4,200 1,859,400 -147,480 3,152,370 1,479,771.50 -110,481 -15,680 17,810 15,460,500 77,880 -31,979,002 8,020 122,240 118,614.00 -4,220 -46,380 -50,000 -51,000 99,270.00 -18,345,725 -391,270 111,100 -9,607,960 -2,438,456 4,802,040 138,140 84,000 3,277,610

ABRA MINING ACE ENEXOR APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET B CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

0.0015 6.86 0.96 2.42 10.96 1.09 2.69 0.27 7.12 1.55 0.206 0.097 0.092 0.0081 0.93 2.95 1.03 0.75 0.011 0.01 2.93 8.95 20.2 0.0059

0.0015 7.39 0.99 2.42 10.96 1.09 2.72 0.27 7.33 1.59 0.207 0.097 0.092 0.0082 0.94 3.01 1.03 0.78 0.012 0.011 2.95 8.99 21.2 0.006

0.0015 6.86 0.95 2.41 10 1.09 2.69 0.27 7.11 1.55 0.2 0.095 0.086 0.0081 0.93 2.93 1 0.75 0.011 0.01 2.93 8.8 20.2 0.0059

MINING & OIL 0.0015 16,000,000 7.2 258,900 0.95 533,000 2.42 56,000 10.96 3,700 1.09 1,000 2.7 1,305,000 0.27 520,000 7.11 6,200 1.59 4,106,000 0.207 50,000 0.095 90,000 0.086 770,000 0.0082 17,000,000 0.93 736,000 2.96 2,963,000 1.03 41,000 0.78 141,000 0.012 16,000,000 0.011 19,600,000 2.93 102,000 8.99 453,200 20.4 4,309,400 0.006 2,000,000

24,000 1,825,964 511,380 135,510 37,750 1,090 3,528,710 140,400 44,125 6,466,060 10,260 8,710 69,530 138,400 685,990 8,780,270 41,300 105,840 191,000 214,600 299,270 4,044,891 88,444,710 11,900

-1,500 218,478 -245,690 -2,410 0 -1,090 -10,880 788,440 -2,929,970 -10,300 9,000 74,115 -21,375,545 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2R ALCO PREF B DD PREF GLO PREF P GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

15.7 500.5 501 101.3 100.3 506 999 1,000 97.75 1,025 1,055 1,022 997.5 78.4 75.3 75.95 75.7 76.75

16 500.5 505 101.3 100.3 508 999 1,000 97.8 1,035 1,055 1,025 997.5 78.45 75.45 75.95 75.7 76.75

15.68 500.5 501 101.3 100.2 500 995 1,000 97.65 1,025 1,055 1,022 997.5 78.2 75.3 75.95 75.7 76.75

PREFERRED 15.72 411,000 500.5 10 505 17,010 101.3 10 100.2 7,000 500 6,200 999 6,000 1,000 13,550 97.7 41,240 1,035 250 1,055 6,050 1,025 6,050 997.5 50 78.45 4,030 75.45 10,000 75.95 22,580 75.7 9,000 76.75 1,000

6,541,612 5,005 8,541,610 1,013 701,900 3,101,360 5,971,200 13,550,000 4,033,222 258,250 6,382,750 6,183,235 49,875 315,838.50 753,850 1,714,951 681,300 76,750

-547,946 -5,005 -10,060 -1,013 -977 -

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

4.19 9.76 0.87

4.31 10.04 0.87

4.12 9.76 0.85

4.12 9.9 0.85

1,298,590 366,972 2,459,590

-8,400 133,200

FIRST METRO ETF

116.2

118.1

116.2

1,627,414

42,120

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.28 10 0.92

10.28 10 0.92

10.28 10 0.92

10,896.80 72,600 18,400

-

MS Trading Summary FINANCIAL

SHARES 8,056,387

INDUSTRIAL

143,915,871

HOLDING FIRMS

296,970,593

PROPERTY

138,903,921

SERVICES

36,030,220

MINING & OIL

87,364,278

GRAND TOTAL

714,474,266

SME

306,000 37,100 2,875,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.1 13,890 DDS 10.28 10 0.92

1,060 7,260 20,000

VALUE 1,903.17 (up) 14.65 844,020,927.40 FINANCIAL 9,722.08 (up) 132.16 INDUSTRIAL 1,554,172,334.0348 7,633.31 (up) 88.18 HOLDING FIRMS 2,959,404,084.35 PROPERTY 4,193.94 (up) 116.25 1,525.19 (up) 27.69 1,152,391,508.81 SERVICES 7,521.46 (up) 102.98 MINING & OIL 856,809,115.18 7,877.63 (up) 136.56 PSEI 115,778,052.3407 All Shares Index 4,662.07 (up) 63.32 7,488,332,078.12 Gainers: 123; Losers: 61; Unchanged: 55; Total: 239

PSE approves Cemex’s plan to offer P13.5b in stock rights

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange approved the planned P13.5-billion stock rights offering of Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. Cemex’s rights offering, according to a preliminary offer sheet posted on the PSE website, will come from an increase in the company’s authorized capital stock to P18.3 billion from P5.19 billion that the company’s shareholders approved on October 16.

The company said it would sell the shares at a price not exceeding P3.39 apiece. Share price of Cemex on Thursday closed at P2.10.

Cemex will compute the final price based on the volume-weighted average price of on 30 consecutive trading days prior to the pricing date and subject to discount not exceeding 25 percent. It will set the final terms of the offering on January 6, 2020.

The offering period will start from January 20 to 24, 2020. The shares will be listed with the PSE on or before March 4, 2020.

Cemex shareholders as of record date January 14, 2020 will be entitled to subscribe to the rights offer shares.

BDO Capital and Investments Corp. is the domestic underwriter of the offering while The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp Ltd. is the global coordinator.

The company’s principal shareholder, Cemex Asian South East Corp. which owns a 66.78-percent stake in the company as of end Oct 2019, agreed to subscribe to its entitlement share.

Cemex will use proceeds from the rights offering to finance the expansion of Solid Cement plant in Antipolo, Rizal.

The cement company is constructing a $235-million cement production line capable of producing 1.5 million metric tons annually. The expansion will increase the cement capacity by 26 percent.

The facility is expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2021.

Cemex is an indirect subsidiary of CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V., one of the largest cement companies in the world based on annual installed cement production capacity.

Phoenix lists P3b worth of short-term commercial paper

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines Inc. successfully listed on Wednesday P3 billion worth of short-term commercial paper with Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.

“As Phoenix Petroleum grows bigger in size and complexity, I am honored to be part of a team and an organization that continues to challenge themselves and learn. More than a fund raising activity, for us, the STCP program is a simple, ingenious approach in meeting working capital requirements in an efficient, cost effective way,” said Phoenix Petroleum chief financial officer Ma. Concepcion de Claro.

The commercial paper is the third series (CP Series C) of its Securities and Exchange Commission-registered threeyear, P10 billion commercial paper program. PNB Capital and Investment Corp. acted as the sole issue manager, lead underwriter and book-runner.

Phoenix will use proceeds of the listed STCP to finance working capital requirements on the importation and sale of petroleum products.

Phoenix issued and listed the first of its CP series worth P7 billion in December of 2018 (CP Series A) under the P10-billion commercial paper program.

Phoenix followed it up with the Second Series (CP Series B) worth P3.5 billion in August.

Phoenix’s CP Program received the Best Debt Deal for the Philippines during the 2019 Asian Banking and Finance Corporate and Investment Banking Awards.

Phoenix is diversifying into the road transport business as part of an expansion program.

The board of Phoenix earlier approved the creation of a new wholly-owned subsidiary that will operate road transport business. It also cleared an investment of P57 million as initial capitalization “The objective is to simplify operations.

As road transport is a non-core activity, there are efficiencies that can be unlocked by possibly joining with established partners with proven track records and expertise. By having a potential partner, we can also minimize the exposure specially to HSSE (health, safe, security and environment,” risks,” said Phoenix senior vice president Raymond Zorrilla earlier.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

World

TODAY

B3

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Manila

Standard

TODAY

UK’s Johnson in sweeping election win LONDON―Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday hailed a political “earthquake” after securing a sweeping election win, which clears the way for Britain to finally leave the European Union next month after years of political deadlock.

With almost all results declared for the 650-seat parliament, Johnson’s Conservative party had secured 362 seats― its biggest majority since the heyday of Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.

By contrast, the main opposition Labour party endured a terrible night, losing 59 seats to 203, forcing leader Jeremy Corbyn to announce plans for his departure.

The anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats announced they would replace Jo Swinson as leader after she lost her seat in western Scotland to the Scottish National Party (SNP).

The pound had risen late Thursday on hopes that Johnson will now deliver his promise to “Get Brexit Done” after years of uncertainty over Britain’s future.

With a large majority of MPs, he will be able to get the divorce deal he struck with Brussels through parliament in time to meet the next Brexit deadline of January 31.

Ratifying the deal would formalize the end of almost five decades of EU-UK integration, although both sides still need to thrash out a new trade and security agreement. AFP

SNOWFALL. A man takes a picture in a park during a snowfall in Srinagar on December 13, 2019. AFP

UN summit struggles to stop climate chaos

M

ADRID―United Nations climate negotiations in Madrid were set to wrap up Friday with even the best-case outcome likely to fall well short of what science says is needed to avert a future ravaged by global warming.

The COP25 summit comes on the heels of climate-related disasters across the planet, including unprecedented cyclones, deadly droughts and record-setting heat waves.

Scientists have amassed a mountain of evidence pointing to even more dire impacts on the near horizon, while millions of youth activists are holding weekly strikes demanding government action.

As pressure inside and outside the talks mounts, old splits dividing rich polluters and developing nations―over who should slash greenhouse gas emissions by how much, and how to pay the trillions needed to live in a climate-addled worldshave reemerged.

Newer fissures, meanwhile, between poor, climate vulnerable nations and emerging giants such

as China and India―the world’s No.1 and No.4 emitters―may further stymie progress.

To not lose time, the 12-day meet was moved at the last minute from original host Chile due to social unrest.

But observers and delegates said negotiators had largely failed to live up to the conference’s motto: Time for Action.

Not even appearances from wunderkind campaigner Greta Thunberg-named Time Person of the Year Wednesday, much to the chagrin of Donald Trump―could spur countries to boost carboncutting pledges that are, taken together, woefully inadequate.

“We are appalled at the state of negotiations,” said Carlos Fuller, lead negotiator for the Association of Small Island States (AO- NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC SIS), many of whose members face an existential threat due to rising sea levels. Notice is hereby given that a Deed of “At this stage we are being cornered. Extrajudicial Partition of the Estate of We fear having to concede on too many the late Edilberto V. Pozon who died issues that would damage the very integ- intestate was executed by his heirs namely Eveline Z. Pozon, widow and rity of the Paris Agreement.”

The narrow aim of the Madrid nego- children, Geraldine Michelle Z. Pozon tiations is to finalize the rulebook for the and Angelica Emilia Z. Pozon as per 2015 climate accord, which enjoins na- Doc. No.321; Page No.: 65; Book tions to limit global temperature rises to No.:VIII; Series of 2019 before Notary “well below” two degrees Celsius. AFP Public Atty. Ruben M. Azañes Jr.

(MStandard-Dec. 7, 14 & 21, 2019)

INVITATION TO BID

LAUNCHING. A model poses wearing CRK + Vimmia Collection during the Charlene Roxborough Konsker and Vimmia celebrate the launch of the CRK + Vimmia Collection on December 12, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California.

AFP

1. ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ORMECO, INC.), through its BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC), hereby intends to apply the sum of Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 9,500,000.00), inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), for the procurement, supply, and delivery of vehicles; 2. ORMECO, INC. now calls for the submission of Eligibility Documents.

Submission of the same by the interested bidders must be duly received by ORMECO, INC. BAC from 16-20 December, at ORMECO, INC. Main Office, Sta. Isabel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. Bidding documents will only be made available to the prospective bidder after it has been duly accredited by ORMECO, INC. The list of the ORMECO, INC. Eligibility Requirements may be viewed at https://web.facebook. com/OrmecoOGMOfficial, and may be requested through email ormeco_coop@yaho.com, including the numbers listed above; 3. ORMECO, INC. now invites suppliers for the following:

LOT

ITEM DESCRIPTION

I

Supply of two (2) Service Vehicles

II

Traditional Thai massage in UNESCO’s heritage list BANGKOK―At Bangkok’s Reclining Buddha temple, Krairath Chantrasri says he is a proud custodian of an ancient skill―the body-folding, sharp-elbowed techniques of Thai massage, which was added Thursday to UNESCO’s prestigious heritage list.

Originating in India and practiced in Thailand for centuries, the massage was popularized when a specialty school opened in the 1960s to train massage therapists from around the world.

Nuad Thai’s addition to UNESCO’s list of “Intangible Cultural Heritage” practices “is historic,” said the Thai delegate at the United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization meeting in Bogota, Colombia.

“It helps promote the practice of Nuad Thai locally and internationally,” he said.

From upscale Bangkok spas

and Phuket beach fronts to modest street-side shop houses, “nuad Thai” is ubiquitous across the kingdom, where an hour of the back-straightening discipline can cost as little as $5.

Krairath, who teaches at the Reclining Buddha School inside the famed Wat Pho temple, helps thousands of Thai and foreign students who flock to the center each year.

The son of a masseuse, he takes great pride in his role sharing the ancient discipline at a temple whose certification is a proud banner for any massage shop.

“I’m a continuation of our collective knowledge,” the 40-yearold told AFP. At Wat Pho’s complex, trainees run through a catalog of moves targeting the body’s acupressure points with thumbs, elbows, knees and feet while also incorporating deep stretches and contortions. AFP

III

FUNDING SOURCE

5% Supply of one (1) Reinvestment Service Vehicle Fund Supply of eleven (11) Utility Cargo Trucks

ABC COST OF BID (INCLUSIVE OF DOCUMENTS VAT) (NON-REFUNDABLE) Php 2,000,000.00

Php 5,000.00

Php 700,000.00

Php 1,000.00

Php 6,800,000.00

Php 10,000.00

4. The schedule of bidding activities is as follows: ACTIVITIES Release of Invitation to Bid Submission of Letter of Intent and Eligibility Documents

SCHEDULE 14 December 2019 (Saturday) 16-20 December 2019 (Monday through Friday), Office Hours, at ORMECO, INC. Office of the General Manager 1:00 pm for Lot I

Pre-Bid Conference

23 December 2019 (Monday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

Deadline of Submission, Opening, and Evaluation of Bids

06 January 2019 (Monday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

2:00 pm for Lot II and Lot III 1:00 pm for Lot I 2:00 pm for Lot II and Lot III

Post-Qualification

07-08 January 2019 (Tuesday and Wednesday)

Delivery Schedule

Upon receipt of Purchase Order

Awarding

Per Lot

Mode of Payment

Cash on Delivery

5. ORMECO, INC. reserves the right to accept or reject any bids, declare failure of bidding and not to award the contract without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. ORMECO, INC. also has no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

Certified by: (Sgd.) ENGR. MICHAEL O. GUICO Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)

(MS-DEC. 14, 2019)

Noted by: (Sgd.) ATTY. NORBERTO M. MENDOZA Head Of Procuring Entity (HOPE)

(MS-DEC. 14, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B4

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

SOARING HIGH. Singapore took the biggest haul of awards at the recent 2019 PropertyGuru Asia property awards held in Bangkok, Thailand, bagging seven regional awards, with UOL Group bagging Best Developer (Asia), followed by Indonesia and the Philippines with four wins each. Singaporean developer UOL Group Limited bested nine companies around the region for the most coveted trophy of Best Developer in Asia. The Philippines collected four regional prizes, including the new honors of Best CBD Development (Asia) and Best Township Masterplan Design (Asia). Around 50 country awards were presented leading to the grand final ceremonies, specifying more precise achievements in landscape architectural design, condo interior design, township master planning, CBD (central business district) development, and green building. PropertyGuru’s Asia awards are the region’s most prestigious real estate awards programme. For a complete list of the awardees, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com

BEACHFRONT PARADISE. Dusit International has officially rebranded The Beach Club at Lubi plantation island, off the coast of Davao Gulf. Dusit Thani Lubi plantation resort is one of the three Dusit properties that were launched in partnership with Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation (TLDC) in Davao this year. The other properties include dusitD2 Davao and Dusit Thani Residence Davao. The resort is designed to blend Dusit’s unique brand of Thai-inspired graciousness hospitality with the warm Filipino hospitality of the Mindanao region. Set within a former coconut plantation, surrounded by unspoiled reef, the resort has been patterned after the award-winning Dusit Thani Maldives on Mudhdhoo Island in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The design and architecture of the villas were inspired by the tropical modernist designs of the late architect Geoffrey Bawa, and the colonial Sri Lankan coconut plantations of the 1920s. From nine villas, the rebranded resort now offers a total of 18 luxury villas, half of which include plunge pools facing the private beach. The 114 sq m. two-bedroom seafront villas can accommodate up to six persons each, and feature private terraces and beautiful open-air garden bathrooms with large soaker bathtubs. For more information, e-mail davao@dusit.com.

HOUSING FAIR AT MOA. Philippine property seekers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be making a beeline for the Lamudi Housing Fair today, which kicks off at the Mall of Asia in Manila. As the last leg of the series by real estate platform Lamudi, the one-day fair will gather some of the most trusted names in real estate and related industries to guide property seekers and home buyers in finding the home of their dreams. At the fair, property seekers can visit the booths of exhibitors PA Properties, Damosa Land, Inc., BPI Family Housing Loan, Robinsons Land Corporation, RCD Land, CDC Holdings, Inc., MyCitiHomes and more to know their housing and real estate investment options. Brokers and agents can network at the event and find potential clients. Learning development coaches from Lamudi Academy will be on hand to share pointers on how to convert online leads to sales, and improving online strategies. For more information, visit lamudi.com.ph/housing_fair.

MEGAWIDE, GAISANO GROUP LAUNCH MIXED-USE EDIFICE IN CEBU. Engineering conglomerate Megawide and the Gaisano group topped off the Taft East Gate Phase I , a mixed-used, 43-storey building in Cebu City. Megawide used an automatic climbing systems for the project, which makes construction of time-consuming structural elements like the shear wall faster, more efficient. The edifice will also be built using the company’s precast. “The technologies that Megawide applies to its construction projects have a huge impact not just on speeding up progress, but also delivering greater quality overall,” explained Eric Tan, Megawide’s deputy head of construction. Megawide is the private partner for infrastructure projects such as the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX). Shown here are representatives of Megawide and the Gaisano group as they wave at a drone camera during the topping-off ceremony.

SHADE OF ARTISTRY. Kitchen and bath products maker Kohler Co., recently brought its latest line of kitchen and bath faucets to the Philippine market, with its vibrant Ombré collection. These faucets sport a finish with a metallic gradient hue for a mixed-metal look. Ombré -- French for shadow or shade -- is a coloring technique that delivers a sophisticated blended look. The vibrant Ombré finish comes in two colorways -- vibrant rose gold to vibrant polished nickel, and vibrant titanium to vibrant rose gold.“These statement faucets allow homeowners to embrace modern design trends without embarking on a complete renovation,” said Jonathan Kwong, Kohler Kitchen and Bath Philippines country manager. To learn more about Vibrant Ombré and other Kohler products, please visit www.kohler.com.

HOLIDAY ON A HIGH.

Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay has prepared a list of packages for holiday revelers flocking to the highlands. Starting on December 16 at 5 a.m. the hotel opens “Dekada de Gallo,” at the in-house restaurant Dekada, with heart-warming servings of “puto bumbong, bibingka, and arrozcaldo.” To welcome its first Christmas, the hotel has a Noche Buena dinner buffet featuring the restaurant’s specialties for only P888/person (for those who reserve early until December 16 and in-house guests) and a rate of P999/ person from December 20 onwards with reservations. To add a more festive mood, this promo is a 5+1, a free treat for one person in a group of six. On Christmas day, there will be a special Brunch Buffet for only P499/person.

For the New Year, the hotel is bringing out its festive ambience with its New Year’s Eve dinner buffet. Also a 5+1 promo, it is only P1,099/person for those who will reserve early (before December 26). See the fireworks of Tagaytay’s sky as it lights up and experience the merriment with treats and good food.

On the first day of the New Year, enjoy the generous spread of breakfast favorites with a special brunch buffet for only P499/person.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

ARTS AND CULTURE

By Honor Blanco Cabie

M

ULTI-COLORED lanterns and Christmas carols are seen and heard in all the Christian towns of this country, which received the Catholic Cross in 1521, including the highly urbanized metropolis of nearly 13 million people.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019

Highway lanterns light up PH

The lanterns, seen from above like fireflies at midnight, provide lights along the MacArthur Highway north of Manila which overwhelm night travelers passing by—those from the Ilocos and Benguet or those driving from the metropolis for quick visits to the province at this time.

Some towns in La Union, like Aringay and Bacnotan; Ilocos Sur, like Cabugao and Sinait; and Ilocos Norte, like Badoc, the hometown of the Lunas, and the Darat junction in Pinili, where Filipino guerrillas fought hand-to-hand combat against the Americans during the Philippine American War, have their share of the night lights from giant lanterns along the concrete and snaking MacArthur Highway.

In the metropolis, particularly near the Greenhills shopping center, motorists can switch off their head lights with the bright gleam from lanterns of different shapes on both sides of Gilmore street.

At the busy Roxas Blvd. fronting Manila Bay, lanterns of different shapes and with several bulbs are hung on electric posts, making a kaleidoscopic skyline for the capital during the night. While Ayala light installations.

Avenue in the posh district of Makati is lit This year’s design showup by the Ayala Land with ornaments and cases bronze cone-shaped Christmas trees, angel wings and abanico-inspired installations maximizing local products such as capiz chandeliers. The art installation symbolizes light and life, and sends “a message of hope and strength.”

The Christmas lanterns are like the carols being sung starting in September in this country, one of two predomiGarbes-Dizon nantly Catholic countries in Asia—the Supermarket’s entry to San Fernando other is East Timor—which have bePampanga’s Giant Lantern Festival. (Photo come a lasting symbol for one of the from Giant Lantern Festival/Facebook) biggest holidays in this archipelago of 108 million.

The official observance does not be- nos call Miatinis, or what Cebuanos call gin until Dec. 16, with what Tagalogs Misa de Gallo from the Spanish term Lantern by Bureau of Jail Management and Penology call the Simbang Gabi, or what Iloca- which means Mass of the Rooster, and lasts until Epiphany.

Symbol of Christmas

Star lanterns light up homes and streets.

Lantern by Commission on Higher Education

The Philippines, which became a predominantly Christian nation in the 16th century following the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan, has several symbols of Christmas, but the lanterns are the biggest in this country.

Homes and buildings are dolled up with beautiful star lanterns called parol, from the Spanish farol which means lantern.

Traditionally, parols, made of bamboo sticks wrapped with crepe paper and a candle to illuminate it, are denotative of the star of Bethlehem which led

Colorful Christmas lanterns sold on the sidewalk. (Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

the lowly shepherds to Jesus’ manger 2,000 years ago.

Almost every home, city street, building, shopping district, public square, department store, commercial area, and church are decorated with lustrous Christmas trees and prismatic blinking lights.

Even on passenger buses, and in jeepneys and private vehicles, small lanterns are seen with twinkling bulbs in dazzling patterns.

Originally, the Filipino lantern was made of thin bamboo frames and

2019 WRAP-UP

The Tweets that shaped the Philippines Maine Mendoza, BTS at the top

I T’S a different world out there on the Twitterverse. But it’s a world where people can share their thoughts, instantly know what’s happening in the world, discover new interests, and interact with others even from across the globe.

Conversations on Twitter played a big part in shaping 2019—and this year, the platform said, was a diverse period.

“The topics on the platforms are so diverse that the top Tweets, most-discussed hashtags, and accounts this year will surely give you a myriad of reactions and will hopefully inspire you to be a part of the real-life conversations on Twitter,” said the social network.

Most Tweeted hashtags

The top hashtags that trended on Twitter revolved on one thing: entertainment.

Rising from fifth place last year, #MaineMendoza is the most Tweeted hashtag in Philippines this year. The phenomenal star continues to shine as her 2019 was loaded with movie launches, drama performances, and brand endorsements.

Filipinos were also quite interested in music as #DyisIsItManila trends in number two. It is a radio program that features the top 10 songs of the day. Listeners could express their love for their favorite songs using this hashtag.

The love team of Edward Barber

C1

SHE'S THAT GIRL.

South Korean boy band BTS is the most Tweeted about Twitter account in K-pop category.

and Maymay Entrata tops Twitter as #MayWard clinched the third spot.

Fans were very active in expressing their support for the love team’s countless projects and events.

Meanwhile, the top three most Tweeted hashtags in sports are #UPFight, #OBF, and #UAAPVolleyballFinals. When it comes to discussions on Kpop, the most feverishly discussed this year were #BTS, #BBMasTopSocial, and #EXO.

Most Tweeted accounts

The most Tweeted about accounts for

2019 were dominated by various personalities from the Philippine entertainment scene.

To no surprise, Maine Mendoza (@ mainedcm) clinched this year’s highest place yet again. Maymay Entrata (@ maymayentrata07) comes in second, cementing her status as one of the most beloved people on Twitter. Other notable artists on the list are Kisses Delavin (@KissesDelavin), Alden Richards (@ aldenrichards02), and Edward Barber (@Barber_Edward_) among others.

Turn to C2

Maine Mendoza is the most Tweeted about personality in the Philippines in 2019.

masked with colored cellophane or with rice paper also known as Japanese paper or papel de Japon. It has two tails that serve as the rays of the star.

Nowadays, the materials range from plastic, shells, glass, beads, foil, feathers, hemp, leaves, seeds, soft drink straws, wood, and even metal.

They usually come in different sizes: from small, tinsel and foil lanterns to big ones that are electrically lit at night, and may have one, three, or more tails aside from the pervasive two.

Turn to C2

Life

C2

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

The 17th MunaTo Festival of the province of Sarangani features a number of cultural and entertaining performances and activities such as (in photo) the ADUSAY (Awit Dula Sayaw) competition.

S

ARANGANI recently celebrated the 17th MunaTo Festival to mark the province’s 27th founding day.

Festival of the ‘first people’

The festival is derived from the B’laan word MunaTo the native term for “first people,” the indigenous natives that first inhabited the province.

The three-day festivities on Nov. 2830 kicked off with the MunaTo Run, Employees Day, Flowerhorn and Betafish Show, and the Municipal Village which showcased the local produce, cuisine, souvenirs, and tourist attractions of its seven municipalities.

The Craft Conference and Exhibition with Cultural Presentations, on the other hand, displayed the intricate handweaving tradition of the lumad tribes such as B’laan, Tagakaolo, T’boli, as well as Moro communities such as the Maguindanaon, Maranao, and Tausug.

Weaving demonstrations showcased the B’laan Mabal Tabih fabric, the crown jewel of Sarangani’s cultural resources which is woven at the Lamlifew School of Living Traditions in Malungon.

The fest also put the spotlight on the Indigenous Peoples weavers showcase their skills at Sarangani MunaTo Festival.

Fyu Kura parade of well-dressed horses.

PSA

Display your Christmas card in Edsa

ONLY a few days left for those who want to win an exciting opportunity to see their Christmas cards displayed live on a huge billboard in Edsa.

Canva’s #CanvaPasko Designed By You online contest invites amateur and professional designers to make their own cards using any of the pre-made Instagram Portrait templates available on the website. Each entry must be limited to a onepage design, and submitted along with their personal details.

Those using Facebook may post their entry as a comment on Canva’s pinned Facebook #CanvaPasko post, “Include a caption telling us who you’re sending love to and why you want to show them love this Christmas. Include the hashtag #CanvaPasko in your comment.”

For those with Instagram, they may post their entry directly on their personal, public account, tag @canva_ ph and add the hashtag #CanvaPasko and a caption to whom they’re sending their love and why they want to show it to them.

The contest is open to all Filipino citizens and residents of Canva Philippines officials (from left) vibe lead Chardy Yabut, country the Philippines, 13 years old and above. It will run until Dec. manager Yani Hornilla-Donato, and design lead Angelo Cuyegkeng 18. Five designs will be chosen each week until Dec. 29. at the launch of #CanvaPasko Designed By You online contest.

The Tweets...

From C1

In sports, NBA (@NBA), Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho), and Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) are the top three most Tweeted about accounts.

BTS (@BTS_ twt), EXO (@weareoneexo), and BLACKPINK (@ygofficialblink) took the top three spots in K-pop.

Top Tweets

This year, a pair of sisters took over Twitter Philippines. A Tweet became viral for its humorous appeal and it even skyrocketed the Twitter user into social media fame.

Sisters Brianna and Samantha Rubia

Samantha Rubia’s (@sammirubia) video of her singing to woo her crush and pretending to have allergies is the most Retweeted Tweet with comment in the Philippines for 2019.

Meanwhile, her sister Brianna (@ briannarubia), Tweeted a video of Samantha singing her heart out to The Little Mermaid’s “Part of Your World.” In this clip, users see another humorous take on how their parents show their appreciation and support to their daughter—making it the most Liked and most Retweeted Tweet in the Philippines in 2019.

Photos from Maine Mendoza, BTS, EXO, Maymay Entrata, Samantha Rubia, and Brianna Rubia’s social media accounts.

work of Bai Estelita Bantilan, a B’laan igem (mat) weaver of Malapatan, who was accorded the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Living Treasure) through the National Commission on Culture and the Arts earlier this year.

Fringe events included the Pearl of Sarangani pageant which selected the province’s ambassadresses of goodwill and tourism, MunaTo Youth Day, Week of Peace, Indigenous Peoples Day, Jesus Reigns, and Tribal Sports.

Sarangani has the unique the distinction of being one of the country’s youngest provinces and at the same time, one of the oldest. It was created in 1992 from South Cotabato’s coastal towns, and dates back to the Metal Age based on the anthropomorphic burial jars unearthed in the caves in Maitum town. Now on display at the National Museum, the jars are described as “exceptional archaeological assemblage and unparalleled in Southeast Asia.”

Short film features priceless Christmas gift A HEARTWARMING story of a maid longing to reunite with her son this Christmas is featured in a short film.

Alternative payment solutions company Dragonpay has teamed up with music artist Ariel Rivera in a heart-wrenching short entitled “Sa Piling Mo” (In Your Arms).

Rivera sings his signature Christmas song “Sana Ngayong Pasko” with a new, touching rendition exclusively for the short.

“We at Dragonpay want to capture that Christmas celebrations are more than just the material things or the gifts under the Christmas tree, but of the simplest things money can’t buy, such as the small reunions with your family and the hearty, sentimental conversations that come along with it,” said Robertson Chiang, founder and chief technology officer of Dragonpay.

Ariel Rivera sings a new version of his signature Christmas song ‘Sana Ngayong Pasko’ for Dragonpay’s short film.

“We are thrilled to have Ariel Rivera and his beautiful song ‘Sana Ngayong Pasko’ as part of our Christmas celebration. One of Dragonpay’s testaments is to make the seemingly impossible things possible and convenient for all, thus our mission for this Christmas: to make #AnythingForYou a reality,” he added.

Highway...

From C1

A few observers say some lanterns have a surrounding “halo” while the number of points may usually range from four to around 10 or even more.

As for stellate patterns, more complex shapes that are seen are the rose, the bromeliad, the snowflake, and the sea urchin. Other designs aside from the common stellate pattern include that of angels, huge flowers, Santa Claus’s face, reindeer, happy faces, and Christmas trees, among other Western holiday symbols.

Today’s parol has evolved from the The 2019 Christmas display along Ayala Avenue in Makati City features cone-shaped old star-shaped lantern to something Christmas trees, angel wings, and abanico-inspired installations. like round, rectangular, or even square, like a diorama with the Nativity on it— sidewalks, bus stops, jeepney stops, and Tarlac, which has since become the covered public plaza of the rising secondthe last often seen at entrances to posh along busy highways.

In Christmas celebrations in many class town, Christmas songs take the night shopping malls in the metropolis. towns outside the capital, a lantern pa- air—like the song “Joy to the World.”

In Barangay Atencio, on the west side rade is always made to showcase the Joy to the world of the main national MacArthur Highway, Some Filipinos say the lantern—its craft of participants.

In Pampanga, north of Manila, there is the Tagalog Christmas song “Pasko Na making now a traditional folk craft— represents the Filipino capacity for in- a giant lantern festival every December Naman” is being sung by young boys and novation, creativity and it is the greatest in the provincial capital which has be- girls in front of lantern-decorated houses.

At the town proper, where Christexpression of Christmas spirit which come famous for its unique star lanterns echoes in the song “Joy to the world” in shapes, colors, and sizes made from all mas lights are aplenty, the night written in 1719 by English hymn writer kinds of material. The admittedly color- breeze wafts the familiar Ilocano and theologian Isaac Watts (1674-1748), ful annual event has earned for the town, song, among others sung by primary founded in 1754, the sobriquet “Christ- graders and the elderly: then only 45.

Ala kadin, inkay’ yawat/ ‘Tay aginalParol making, which has become a mas capital of the Philippines.”

Recently, innovations from Pam- domi a pirak/ Ta uray sisiam a sikapat/ source of income for some Filipinos, is not only a Christmas symbol but a sug- panga included production of lanterns No isut’ itedyo kadakam a pagayat.// gestive of hope for lots of lantern makers. with electronic lights that can be pro- (Please give it now to us/ The money as These lantern makers make parol as early grammed to produce a dancing effect, our Christmas gift/ Although they form part of some loose change/ Provided as June and hawk them in October, with known as “flexilight” lanterns.

Somewhere at the lagoon in Moncada, that’s the symbol of your love.//) vendors shuffling feet everywhere—on

Entertainment

By Robbie Pangilinan

Kevin Hart cements place in Hollywood history Comedian Kevin Hart (center) officially cemented his place in Hollywood history after taking part in one of the entertainment industry’s oldest traditions.

Hart placed his hand and footprints in cement outside the famed TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. He was accompanied by actors Dwayne Johnson (right) and Will Ferrell.

The Philadelphia native stars in the upcoming sequel Jumanji: The Next Level with his good friend Dwayne Johnson as co-star. AFP

Gerald Anderson appointed Philippine Youth Commission ambassador H eaded by KASAMA (Kabataang Samasamang Maglilingkod) President Gerald Ortiz with ULAP (Union of Local authority of the Philippines) President and Quirino Governor Dakila “Dax” Cua, KASAMA national Adviser Nellie King and Sen. Imee Marcos, the Philippine Youth Commission appointed Star Magic artist Gerald Anderson as ambassador in a ceremony held on Dec. 8 at the Grand Ballroom of Venus Hotel in Baguio City.

Actor and Star Magic talent Gerald Anderson succeeds Dingdong Dantes as Philippine Youth Commission ambassador

ence ng isang artista para tumulong sa kapwa. Since then, I told myself that I will do my best, basta nasa position ako at kaya ko, para makatulong sa iba.” Gerald shared.

The actor gave credit to his mom, Mommy Vangie, whom he admires in helping others. “Gagawa talaga siya ng paraan para makatulong sa iba,” When asked about his plans for the youth, “Unang-una makapag bigay ng inspiration at ipakita kung gaano ka-importante tumulong sa

Gerald Anderson with Sen. Imee Marcos during his appointment

World-renowned...

From C4

Maria rachelle Gerodias has a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance and Vocal Literature from the famed eastman School of Music in rochester, new York, and performs regularly to audiences here and abroad.

An award-winning soprano, she has landed leading roles in numerous opera productions in the United States, Japan, here in the Philippines, and other Asian countries. She also has the distinction of being the first Filipina to be invited to lead roles in important opera houses such as the Volksoper Wein in Vienna, and the Daegu Opera House in South Korea; and to collaborate with famed Italan opera singer Mirella Freni.

For the Ngayon Na, Kabataan concert, Gerodias says, “Audiences can expect opera arias, some from Broadway, and some OPM songs. We are singing a lot of familiar songs, so this isn’t just for opera lovers.”

This is a perfect opportunity for music lovers in general to spend a magical evening so close to Christmas with these amazing talents.

Extra International...

C3

Yayo Aguila gets first tattoo

SNAPSHOT

“I’m very honored, very proud and I’m very excited kasi merong panibagong platform para makatulong sa ibang tao,” Gerald said.

During his speech to almost nine hundred Sangguniang Kabataan leaders all over the Philippines, Gerald talked about the important role of a celebrity after he experienced the Ondoy calamity in 2009.

“Hindi po ako nag-dalawang isip, lumusong sa tubig syempre bata at adventurous para tanungin ko mga kapitbahay ko if they needed help. It so happened that someone was able to take some photos of myself and have them posted on social media. When it went viral, ‘dun ko po nakita ‘yung influ-

saturdaY, december 14, 2019 nickie.standard@gmail.com

iba basta kaya natin. Kailangan ‘yung ibang tao, kung ano kaya nating ibigay, ibigay natin sa iba at marami tayong matutunan sa pagtulong sa iba. May plano kami about education, syempre sports na mas malapit sa puso ko.”

It can be recalled that Dingdong Dantes was the last PSY ambassador in 2004 after Rico Yan.

The concert will also feature Gerodias’ husband, Korean baritone Byeong In Park. Trained under the great tenor Francisco Araiza at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart, Germany, Park had been a guest soloist at the Graz Opera Theater performing roles in La Boheme and Lohengrin, and Hansel and Gretel. In 2014, he debuted in Singapore in Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte at The esplanade Theater.

This extraordinary dinner-concert will be memorable to audiences looking for something special to see this holiday season. They can expect to hear a glorious rendition of “The Prayer” from Gerodias in a duet with one of the concert’s special guests, Atty. Joey Lina, former senator and now president of The Manila Hotel. Park, whose booming baritone is a sure audience pleaser, also hopes to impress everyone with his take on some Filipino songs.

Other special guests in the concert are Atty. Mike Toledo, and The Bayanihan, the National Folk Dance Company of the Philippines; with the special participation of Gino Padilla.

Tickets or table reservations are available at The Manila Hotel. A special room rate of only P5,300 nett for an overnight stay on Dec. 15 at The Manila Hotel is available to ticket holders. For inquiries, please call 8527-0011 loc. 1273.

missing out on a Golden Globes nomination.

On the television side The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Amazon’s story of a 1950s housewife-turned-standup From C4 comic, followed a strong showing at the emmys by Robert De Niro was again overlooked for his lead role topping the SAG nominations with four.

Although less high-profile than the Golden Globes, in Scorsese’s three-and-a-half hour The Irishman after

In Her almost four decades in show business, Yayo Aguila may have seen and experienced it all, but the 52-year-old seasoned actress just recently mustered enough courage to get her first tattoo.

“I’ve always wanted to have a tattoo, but I was too scared then. Of course when I was young, I did not want to stain my wholesome teenybopper image. Then when I had kids, I did not want them to get any idea,” says Yayo, whose filmography lists over 20 movies and probably more than a hundred TV roles.

After twelve years of being separated from actor William Martinez, Yayo consulted her four grown-up children about getting a tattoo and they all encouraged her to go ahead and have herself inked.

She even got her ears pierced as well.

“My tattoo is the Virgo symbol because that’s my zodiac sign. I chose a trustworthy artist, Ricky Sta. Ana, and he did it in seven minutes. All the fear was gone as I didn’t feel much pain. The ear piercing was painless!” exclaims Yayo, adding that Sta. Ana is the best.

Tattoo master ricky Sta. Ana is the founder and president of the Philippine Tattoo Artists Guild (PhilTAG) that has been supporting its members since 1995 by providing training, development, and education programs so that the tattoo artists can earn for their families. The organization also gives its members the opportunity to work abroad.

Sta. Ana, who is celebrating 35 years in the tattoo industry, owns Skinworkz Tattoo Shops at SM north edsa, robinsons Manila and Cartimar Pasay.

“I’m still single, but you never know, after this tattoo baka meron na akong maging suitors,” Yayo says in jest.

The Bagets star is currently busy with a teleserye and the upcoming movie Muelle De Binondo, her first period movie in her 35 years in showbiz.

Muelle De Binondo is a story of love in time of war, set in the year 1896 in Binondo, Manila. The first of its kind in Philippine cinema, Muelle De Binondo is based on a true-tolife story of an ethnic Chinese-Filipino that shows the struggle of the Chinese minority at that time.

Yayo Aguila with ink master Ricky Sta. Ana

GMA Network dominates 2019 Anak TV Awards LeADInG broadcast company GMA Makabata network dominated the annual Anak Hall of Famers TV Awards in ceremonies held last Dec. Marian Rivera 5—earning a total of 37 Anak TV Seals and Dingdong for GMA 7, GMA news TV, a n d Dantes GMA regional TV, with nine Kapuso personalities being named as the most admired nationwide.

Once again conferred the Anak TV Seal were GMA-7’s flagship newscasts 24 Oras; m u l t i - a w a r d e d magazine show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho; longest-running morning show Unang Hirit; country’s pioneer environmental program Born To Be Wild; top-rating infotainment show GMA rTV’s festival specials KapuAHA!; wellness program Pinoy MD; and so sa Panagbenga: The GMA Regional pioneering public service program Wish TV Balitang Amianan Special Live CovKo Lang. erage and Pit Senyor: The GMA Re Winning back-to-back Anak TV gional TV Balitang Bisdak Special Live Seal awards, too, were hit family sitcom Coverage were also given the iconic Pepito Manaloto; drama anthology StoAnak TV Seal anew. Joining them in ries for the Soul; top-rating weekly fansporting the much-coveted Anak TV tasy anthology show Daig Kayo Ng Lola Seal were Hala Bira! The GMA ReKo; and award-winning infotainment gional TV One Western Visayas Dinashow I-Bilib. gayang Festival Special Live Coverage’ earning an Anak TV Seal this year and Kapuso sa Kadayawan: The GMA were investigative news magazine proRegional TV One Mindanao Special gram Reporter’s Notebook; high-rating Coverage. infotainment show Amazing Earth; For the second time around, Byawell-loved comedy anthology Dear heng Do30, which airs on regional TV Uge; talk-variety show Sarap Di Ba?; Mindanao stations, received an Anak weekly musical variety program StuTV Seal. dio 7; and kiddie musical variety show Meanwhile, couple Dingdong Toppstar TV. Dantes and Marian Rivera-Dantes GMA news TV, on the other hand, were both elevated to the Makabata received 12 Anak TV Seal awards for Hall of Fame. This is the first time that Ang Pinaka, Biyahe Ni Drew, Brigada, a real-life showbiz couple has been Day Off, Good News, Idol Sa Kusina, conferred such award. Joining them in iJuander, Investigative Documentaries, the Hall of Fame was award-winning Mars, News To Go, Poptalk, and Wagas. broadcast-journalist Kara David.

GMA regional TV (GMA rTV) The three Kapuso personalities continues to be lauded as a child-friendly earned the award for having been choregional channel as it took home eight sen as the most admired, child-sensitive Anak TV Seal honors this year. Once TV personalities nationwide for seven again earning the Anak TV Seal were loyears. cal newscasts GMA Regional TV BaliJust like last year, earning the votes of tang Amianan (north and Central Luthe jury as Male Makabata Stars were zon); GMA Regional TV One Western multi-awarded comedian Michael V. Visayas; and GMA Regional TV One and actor Alden Richards. AwardMindanao (north, Central, and Southwinning public affairs host Drew Arelern Mindanao). lano and broadcast journalist Atom Araullo were likewise voted as Male Makabata Stars.

Once again named as Female Makabata Stars were versatile Kapuso actress Bianca Umali and Phenomenal Star Maine Mendoza.

Various Kapuso programs were also selected as Top Household Favorites.

These were Eat Bulaga, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho; Biyahe ni Drew, and Pepito Manaloto. every year, Anak TV confers the iconic Anak TV seal on programs and personalities, as determined by adult jurors from various sectors representing different geographic areas of the country. To sport the Anak TV seal means a program is wholesome and child-safe while being named a Makabata Star means that a TV personality is worthy to be emulated by the youth.

Male Makabata Star Alden Richards

the SAG awards are seen as more of an indicator of Oscars glory, since actors represent the largest branch of the roughly 10,000 voters for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The strong return for Bombshell throws the movie firmly back into Oscars contention, especially for best picture,

after it managed just two nominations at the Golden Globes. elsewhere, acting frontrunners Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) and Renee Zellweger (Judy) burnished their credentials by picking up further nominations.

The 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will take place on Jan. 19 in Los Angeles. AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019

World-renowned soprano headlines ‘Ngayon Na, Kabataan’ fundraising concert’ Rachelle Gerodias, the country’s most soughtafter soprano, will headline the concert Ngayon Na, Kabataan happening tomorrow, Dec. 15, at the Tent City of The Manila Hotel.

The concert doubles as a fundraising dinner for future youth-focused projects of the Knights of Rizal.

Believing that the hope of the nation rests on the

Rachelle Gerodias, the country’s most soughtafter soprano, with the headliners of the 'Ngayon Na, Kabataan' concert

young, Ngayon Na, Kabataan was conceptualized to support the Knights of Rizal’s thrust to intensify programs that will spread ideals and teachings of the exemplary life of our national hero Jose Rizal with trainings and exposure projects aimed at character building, servant leadership, enlightened nationalism, and dedicated service to our country and people. Continued on C3

Juris tonight at Newport Performing Arts Theater

A

FTER Gazini Ganados’ fall, the country pins its hopes on Michelle Dee at the 69th Miss World finals happening at the ExCeL London in London, UK to be telecast live at 10:20 tonight on GMA-7.

Miss World Philippines 2019 Michelle Dee

It’s Michelle Dee’s turn to shine at Miss World 2019

band MYMP. SINGER-SONGWRITER JuFor the concert ris went solo 10 years ago, and repertoire, Juris: The tonight she is celebrating this Repeat will dish out milestone with Metro Music songs where the audience Orchestra and some special will get to see and hear guest in a concert happening at her different styles and Newport Performing Arts Thedifferent tastes in music. ater in Pasay City “We added some songs.

Titled Juris The Repeat, Basically, if you are in the the show is directed by Ice concert, you get the idea Seguerra, who will also join of how everything started the chanteuse in one of the through songs. Even before production numbers.

I became a singer, there “We will have this concert are songs that tell the story to celebrate my 10th year as of how I started. And from a solo artist. Basically, if you what we learned from the go to the concert, you get an Singer-songwriter Juris first show, it’s too long idea of how I started through the songs,” Juris shared with some select and from the feedback, the audience wants something na hindi sila mapapagod,” she said. members of the entertainment press.

Tickets to Juris: The Repeat are priced at The singer-songwriter added that that the show is actually her 20th year as a P5,000, SSVIP; P3,500, SVIP; P3,000, VIP; singer as she started singing professionally P2,500, Gold; P2,000, Silver; and P1,000, in 1999 and eventually became one-half of Bronze.

‘Bombshell’ leads US Screen Actors Guild award nominations

Michelle in her national costume

Dee, the 24-year-old daughter of 1979 Miss International Melanie Marquez, is competing with over 120 delegates from around the world to succeed reigning Miss WorldVanessa Ponce of Mexico and become only the second Filipina to win after Megan Young in 2013.

Dee just got a good chance after being named one of the Top 10 finalists in Head-to-Head Challenge which guaranteed a Top 40 placement for the Fil-Chinese beauty.

Dee will use a Francis Libiran-designed national costume, features butterfly sleeves, collar sun inspired by the sun in the Philippine flag, complemented by the designer’s signature Art Deco embroidery and intricate hand-made beadwork and pattern inspired by the 16th century Visayan warrior tattoo “Batek” which symbolizes bravery and victory.

Libiran has also designed Dee’s final evening gown with “Pearl of the Orient Seas” concept embellished with exquisite details.

Support Michelle by voting online through the @mobstar official app. Follow these simple steps below: Download and create a free @ mobstar official account; Look me up and follow “Michelle Dee”; and swipe left and right to be able to like/vote. ***

General’s daughter vies for Miss Philippines Youth title Sixteen-year-old Patricia Angela Cruz, who takes inspiration from her prominent parents, Police Brigadier General Gilberto DC Cruz, director of PRO13 (Caraga Region), and former actress and now Mayor of Pola, Oriental Mindoro, Jennifer “Ina Alegre’ Cruz, is one of the candidates of the Search for Mr. and Miss Philippines Youth 2020.

An 11th grade student of San Beda College,

Patricia hopes to enter the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) and follow in the footsteps of his father, an exemplary and distinguished police official.

“My parents are my role models and I want to be like them. My mother who has come a long way from being an actress and my father who remains humble despite his many accomplishments. They advise me to be always confident,” said Patricia who admires Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and follows her favorite South Korean boy band BTS. Patricia advocates for the welfare and preservation of the Mangyan indigenous groups found on the island of Mindoro through outreach programs providing education and job opportunities to improve their standard of living.

On its 20th edition, the Search for Mr. and Miss Philippines Youth 2020, headed

by Gerald Ortiz, founder and president, aims to contribute positive influence to the young generation; showcase their beauty, talents and skills; help the youth sector especially, the out of school youth; and produce young ambassadors of goodwill for charitable causes in poor and underprivileged areas around the country.

The pageant discovered the likes of Ding Dong Dantes, Jolina Magdangal, Dimples Romana, and the late Rico Yan. Miss Philippine Youth International 2019 Rikki Mae Dela Peña, one of Manila’s Best Dressed 2019, and Mister Philippine Youth International 2019 Angelo Basa will crown their successors during the finals night to be held in January

promote the illegal set-top boxes included two personal profile pages and a business page for “Lifeforgreatness”.

“Beware of these operations that are not licensed or affiliated in any way with ABSCBN,” warned ABS-CBN AVP & Head of Global Anti-Piracy Elisha Lawrence. “We will continue to protect customers by shutting these operations down. The only genuine ABS-CBN internet subscription services are TFC on cable and satellite, IPTV and TFC.tv.”

“We remain steadfast in protecting the content from ABS-CBN’s team of hardworking creative and technical people

“BOMBSHELL,” which depicts the sexual harassment scandal that ousted Fox News co-founder Roger Ailes, led the Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations Wednesday, boosting its Oscar hopes.

Lionsgate’s star-studded #MeToo drama secured acting nods for its lead Charlize Theron, who plays TV news anchor Megyn Kelly, as well as supporting actresses Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, and an overall cast nomination.

It narrowly beat divorce tearjerker “Marriage Story,” Martin Scorsese’s gangster epic “The Irishman” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood,” which each secured three acting nominations.

Patricia Angela Cruz

ABS-CBN files $4M lawsuit vs Anthony Brown, 1700 Cuts Technology LEADING Filipino media and entertainment company ABS-CBN has filed a complaint in U.S. Federal Court in the Southern District of Texas against Anthony Brown and 1700 Cuts Technology seeking damages in excess of $4 million for allegedly pirating ABSCBN’s content and trademark infringement.

The lawsuit alleges that Texas local resident Brown promoted and sold modified illegal set-top boxes via various Facebook. com pages operated by Brown and 1700 Cuts Technology that enabled buyers to access ABS-CBN’s live programming without paying the appropriate fees for such services. The Facebook pages used to

Lionsgate's star-studded #MeToo drama 'Bombshell' secured acting nods for its lead Charlize Theron, who plays former TV anchor Megyn Kelly, and an overall cast nomination.

But “Marriage Story,” which on Monday topped the Golden Globes nominations and added further individual nods for Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, surprisingly missed out on best cast —the SAG’s top award.

Instead the remaining best cast nominations went to Nazi satire “Jojo Rabbit”—which also stars Johansson— and South Korean class warfare drama “Parasite.”Robert De Niro was again overlooked for his lead role in Scorsese’s three-and-a-half hour “The Irishman” after missing out on a Golden Globes nomination.

On the television side “The Marvelous Mrs Maisel,” Amazon’s story of a 1950s housewife-turned-standup comic, followed a strong showing at the Emmys by topping the SAG nominations with four.

Although less high-profile than the Golden Globes, the SAG awards are seen as more of an indicator of Oscars glory, since actors represent the largest branch of the roughly 10,000 voters for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The strong return for “Bombshell” throws the movie firmly back into Oscars contention, especially for best picture, after it managed just two nominations at the Golden Globes.

Elsewhere, acting frontrunners Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”) and Renee Zellweger (“Judy”) burnished their credentials by picking up further nominations. AFP

who need to be rightfully acknowledged and compensated for their work,” said ABSCBN Managing Director for North and Latin America Jun Del Rosario.

Del Rosario did not mince words about the pirates. “What these pirates do is literally rob from this ecosystem of content creators, pretend to own the content, and scam customers by making money off that content. ABS-CBN is committed to stopping them and bringing them to justice,” he added.

ABS-CBN is represented

by Steven Abbott and Stephen M. Gaffigan and Christine Daley of Stephen M. Gaffigan, P.A.

Global Pinay beauty FILIPINA beauty Vanessa Udarbe-Quezon was crowned M.S International at the 2019 TKS MRS. International pageant held last Nov. 8 at the Orchid Country Club, Singapore.

Udarbe-Quezon edged out other candidates from 25 countries, with her title bestowed on a candidate qualified as a married single lady (widowed, separated, divorced, or single mother).

“I finally have my own crown to cherish for the rest of my life,” expressed the Negros-pride whose passion for joining pageants paid

off in a pool of foreign beauties.

Candidates from the USA, Latvia, Malaysia, South Korea, and hostcountry Singapore bagged the pageant’s other titles up for grabs.